In the wake of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30, three students from the University of Cebu – Main Campus have turned their skills into action by launching a real-time disaster response app—a digital platform now serving as a vital lifeline for affected communities.
Created by Vince Datanagan, Ralph Adriane Dilao, and Clint Alonzo, the app allows earthquake victims to pin their exact location and list their urgent needs such as food, water, shelter, and medicine. Every pin on the map represents a family, a story, and a cry for help.
Meanwhile, donors, LGUs, NGOs, and volunteer groups can access the map to view and respond to requests, helping streamline the distribution of much-needed aid especially in far-flung or previously unreached areas.
“We were teammates in hackathons before, and we’ve always shared the same passion for web development,” said the team.
According to the developers, the idea came together quickly:
“It started Wednesday evening, October 1. I was chatting with Vince in our GC (group chat), and we both thought, ‘What if we made a disaster response app?’ We kept seeing posts online from people in areas that hadn’t received any help yet. That pushed us to act.”
They immediately reached out to Ralph, who agreed to join.
“That night, we started coding at 10 PM, and by 4 AM, the first version of the app was deployed,” they shared. “The next day, we added more features—until it became what it is now. We were honestly surprised when it blew up.”
With overwhelming support and shares across social media, the app is now being hailed as “Bayanihan made digital.” Many users have praised the tool not only for its usefulness but also for how it reflects the spirit of community and compassion during disaster.
“Every pin represents a family. Every pin represents a life,” reads a powerful line from a community post that helped spark widespread awareness.
To maintain the app’s effectiveness, the developers urge the public to avoid inputting false or spam information, reminding everyone that “every pin matters.”
Due to limitations on social platforms, the link to the app has been placed in the comments section of shared posts rather than in captions.
As Cebu continues its path to recovery, this student-led innovation proves that hope, compassion, and quick action—even from the youth can make a real difference in times of crisis.
Source: Clint Alonzo
