Philippines (MNN) — Relief aid is pouring into the Philippines, but it’s not reaching everyone. Thankfully, local believers have access to those in need. Their connections within remote communities are proving crucial.
More than half a million people were affected by last week’s 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu province. Landslides and sinkholes caused by the quake and subsequent tremors are preventing survivors from getting help today.
“Most of the [aid] responses are underway in San Miguel and Bogo [City], but there are churches up on the mountains in the villages, and they’re not being reached because it’s difficult to go there,” A3’s Herman Moldez says.
However, he adds, “Local pastors are ministering to them; they don’t have the resources, but they’re just being with the people, praying, encouraging, and supporting them.”
Over 23,000 people cannot – or will not – return to their homes. Authorities set up a “tent city” in Bogo City to shelter earthquake-displaced families.
Bogo City Hall damaged by the earthquake, October 2025
(Wikimedia Commons)
“At the moment, [there are] still many aftershocks happening, so most of the people are not returning to their houses,” Moldez says.
“Some have lost their houses, so they’ve been sleeping on the streets.”
Seasonal monsoon rains complicate relief efforts, but the weather could’ve been much worse.
“We are so grateful to the Lord that the typhoon did not pass [through] that area. It’s up north, it’s quite far away, so it did not complicate [relief efforts,]” Moldez says.
Gospel opportunity
A3 equips and empowers Christian leaders throughout Asia and beyond. Learn more about their ministry here. Partnering pastors work alongside the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches to deliver help and hope to those in need.
“Most of the time, this is an opportunity for people to start thinking about [their] relationship with God,” Moldez says.
“The Philippines is a very religious country. It’s predominantly Catholic, so it’s an opportunity to help them understand what the Gospel means.”
Pray for the coordination of aid deliveries so that people in remote locations get the help they need and for the safety of those traveling through rugged terrain.
“Pray for the pastors, that they may know how to minister and guide [people] and the Lord will use this as a means to create spiritual revival in the lives of people,” Moldez adds.
Pray for churches planning trauma-response outreach once relief efforts transition to recovery.
“One of the things that will be needed is a continuing rehabilitation of these people, what we call trauma healing. So many people are still afraid whenever there is an aftershock; they’re just trembling,” Moldez says.
Header image depicts the 53rd Engineer Brigade DRU with the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the Search, Rescue, and Retrieval Operations in Bogo City, Cebu on October 2, 2025. (Wikimedia Commons)
