Two weeks after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu on September 30 2025, recovery remains a daily struggle. In Bogo City, where hundreds of homes collapsed, a 20-hectare government property in Barangay Cogon now serves as a temporary refuge for displaced families.

The site opened during the first week of October. Rows of white tents line the field, glimmering under the afternoon sun and turning damp and cold at night. According to city officials, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) began setting up tents on October 2, 2025, and by October 7, around 76 tents were already in place. Each tent measures about 16 square meters and can shelter one family of up to ten members. The full plan calls for 2,500 tents to be installed across the 20-hectare property, with smaller clusters to follow in nearby towns such as Medellin and Tabogon.

At this early stage, government and health offices have a critical opportunity: to shape the tent city not just as a place of shelter, but as a space that protects health, dignity, and safety.

Protecting Health Before Problems Arise

Crowded camps can quickly become vulnerable to disease if essential services are delayed. The Municipal Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (MESU) of Bogo City, together with the Provincial (PESU) and Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESU), should begin health surveillance from day one.

Regular data collection on fever, cough, and diarrhea can help detect early warning signs of outbreaks. A clear reporting system between MESU, PESU, and RESU will make sure that any increase in illness triggers an immediate response.

These surveillance units can also coordinate preventive health actions such as vaccination drives, hygiene education, and rapid investigation of suspected cases.

Safe Water and Sanitation

Access to clean water and sanitation will decide whether families stay healthy. Shared taps and toilets may be unavoidable, but disease is preventable with planning.

The local government can install separate water points for drinking and washing, distribute containers with covers, and ensure daily chlorination and water testing. Toilets should be well lit, gender-separated, and maintained regularly. Drainage and waste management should be organized early to prevent stagnant water and mosquitoes.

These steps may sound basic, but they form the foundation of outbreak prevention.

Maternal and Child Health

Pregnant women and infants need uninterrupted care. Even in temporary shelters, it should be possible to provide prenatal checkups, iron supplements, safe delivery plans, and newborn vaccinations.

Midwives or nurses can be assigned to visit tents weekly. A simple maternal and child care tent, stocked with vitamins and vaccines, can make the difference between a safe birth and a preventable tragedy.

Early coordination among MESU, PESU, and RESU will also help track maternal and infant health, ensuring that no woman or child is left unseen in the crowd.

Chronic Illness and Medicine Access

Disasters often interrupt treatment for hypertension, diabetes, or asthma. Creating a health registry for patients with chronic conditions should be an early priority. Medicines for maintenance and blood pressure or glucose monitoring kits can be stored in a small mobile pharmacy.

Provincial and regional health offices can help supply drugs and equipment through PESU and RESU coordination.

Nutrition and Food Quality

Relief goods should do more than fill stomachs. Nutritious food is essential for children’s growth and mothers’ recovery. Food packs should include vegetables, protein, and fortified rice. Nutrition workers can screen children for undernutrition and organize simple feeding sessions for toddlers and older adults.

Health educators can also promote exclusive breastfeeding and safe food preparation.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Physical safety is only part of recovery. The emotional toll of displacement can be just as heavy. Families living in tents face fear, uncertainty, and stress.

Psychosocial support should be integrated early. Setting up child-friendly spaces, play areas, and group discussions can help families rebuild confidence. Trained volunteers and barangay health workers can provide basic psychological first aid, while serious cases should be referred to mental health professionals through the provincial network.

Protection of Women and Children

Disasters often heighten the risk of violence and exploitation. Women and girls need safe access to toilets, bathing areas, and sleeping spaces. Installing lighting in walkways, assigning barangay tanods and female volunteers for night patrols, and creating a confidential help desk for survivors of violence can help prevent abuse.

Orientation sessions on respect and community safety should be part of camp life. Protecting women and children is not just a security issue, it is a public health responsibility.

Preparing for the Cold and Rainy Season

The tent city was built as the northeast monsoon begins. With rain and cooler nights ahead, families must be protected from colds, pneumonia, and mosquito-borne diseases.

Tents should be raised off the ground to avoid flooding. Families will need blankets, sleeping mats, and covered drying lines for wet clothes. Fogging, mosquito nets, and regular cleanup drives can stop dengue and other vector-borne infections before they start.

A Chance to Get It Right

Barangay Cogon’s tent city represents both hope and challenge. It is a refuge for those who lost everything, but it could also become the center of new health problems if early action is neglected.

Now is the moment for local and regional teams to work together. MESU for daily monitoring, PESU for provincial coordination, and RESU for regional guidance and laboratory support. Their combined efforts can keep Cebu’s families safe and healthy through the months ahead.

The tent city may be temporary, but the lessons it offers could last far longer. By building sanitation, surveillance, and compassion into every step of the response, Cebu can turn its recovery site into a model of preparedness and dignity.

Sources

Philippine News Agency – Tent City for Displaced Cebu Families
GMA News – 64 Families Staying at Bogo Tent Shelter
SunStar Cebu – Tents Rise for Displaced Families After Quake
Manila Times – 2,500 Tents to be Installed in Bogo City
UNFPA Philippines – Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies Guidelines
Reuters – Earthquake in Central Philippines