Earthquake recovery
DSWD Pays Out P799 Million in Cash Aid to Mindanao Earthquake Families
July 1, 2026 · Joshua S Bariñan
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has begun releasing emergency cash to families whose homes were damaged by the June 8 earthquake in southern Mindanao. The payout covers about 139,000 families in the Davao Region and Soccsksargen under a fund of around P799.59 million. Secretary Rex Gatchalian said distribution moved into full operation in late June, with a goal to finish by the end of July.
Families with houses totally destroyed receive about P10,244 each, while those with partial damage receive about P5,122. Amounts vary slightly by town. The money is meant to help households repair homes and cover daily needs as recovery begins.
Where the Payout Has Reached
On Balut Island, part of the town of Sarangani in Davao Occidental, 7,101 families were set to receive aid, 4,668 with homes fully destroyed and 2,433 with partial damage.
In Malapatan, 13,784 families collected their grants. More than 5,000 families were paid in General Santos City, which holds the single largest city allocation under the program.
Latest Distribution
The DSWD field office in Davao reported on June 29 that 5,237 families in Jose Abad Santos and the town of Sarangani had received P34.9 million as of June 26.
Of that, 1,337 beneficiaries in Jose Abad Santos were granted P7.1 million. The remaining P27.8 million reached 3,900 families in Sarangani town, part of the wider rollout that targets 7,101 households on Balut Island.
Timeline and Target
The payout opened on June 23 across Davao Occidental, Sarangani, and General Santos. Gatchalian led several distributions in person, including stops in Glan, Malapatan, and Balut Island.
By June 29, total aid delivered in Davao Occidental had passed P98 million, counting the emergency cash and earlier relief goods. The agency has not declared the rollout complete.
The agency aims to finish the rollout by July 31. The cash sits on top of food and other relief goods handed out earlier as the affected towns shift from rescue to early recovery.
Sources
- GMA NewsPayout start date and the scope of the Emergency Cash Transfer program.
- DSWDOfficial account of the secretary leading the distributions and the grant amounts.
- Manila BulletinFund size and the 139,000 family target.
- BusinessMirrorStart of the cash distribution in the affected areas.
- SunStar DavaoJune 29 update on Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani town payouts.
- Philippine Information AgencyRecovery stage and the pledge of continued aid.
- Philippine News AgencyP98 million in aid delivered to Davao Region towns.
- Philippine News AgencyRunning total of P63 million and later figures for Davao Occidental disbursements.