Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco participated with fellow Cabinet members in evaluating damage from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu Province on September 29 night, resulting in fatalities and impacting thousands of residents. The province has been placed under a state of calamity, and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed immediate assistance.
Frasco, accompanied by her husband, Cebu 5th District Representative Duke Frasco, joined Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Health officials, and local government units (LGUs) in responding to affected areas, particularly the epicenter in Bogo City, alongside Governor Pamela Baricuatro.
Following the quake, Frasco coordinated with the Office of the President and other secretaries for urgent aid, while directing DOT regional offices and gateway authorities to monitor infrastructure and support affected communities, tourists, and tourism workers. She instructed the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to deploy teams for damage assessments, focusing on heritage churches in Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Tabogon, and San Remigio, as well as key sites in Cebu City and northern Cebu.
As of October 1 at 5 PM, DOT Central Visayas reported damage to 80 tourism establishments, 21 tourist sites, 36 accommodation facilities, and 23 other infrastructure elements. A total of 711 tourism workers from hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, and transport services have been affected.
Fifteen tourists were stranded— one in Bogo City, eight in San Remigio, and six in Santa Fe—with eight already heading to Cebu City and six in Bantayan extending their stays until ferry services resume. DOT is assisting the remaining foreign tourist in Bogo City with relocation.
Heritage sites under inspection include Fort San Pedro; the heavily damaged Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan; partially damaged Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Bantayan; the collapsed facade and roof of San Isidro Labrador Church in Tabogon; severely damaged Capelinha de Fatima Replica and San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Remigio; and tourist rest areas in Medellin and Carmen.
Additional challenges include impassable roads and bridges in Bogo, Tabuelan, Medellin, and San Remigio; a landslide in Barangay Kal-anan, Tabogon; seawater recession prompting evacuations in Daanbantayan shorelines; and power and telecom disruptions in northern Cebu. Tourists are advised to avoid mountains, coastlines, and landslide-prone areas, keep devices charged, and rely on official updates.
The DOT is collaborating with LGUs, disaster units, and stakeholders across Regions V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and XIII for safety, assessments, and restoration. Assistance includes food packs from DSWD and the Turismo Asenso Loan Program with the Department of Trade and Industry and Small Business Corporation for affected tourism micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Tourists seeking help can contact the DOT via the Tourist Assistance Call Center at 151-TOUR (151-8687), agents at 0954-253-3215, Facebook chat on the Department of Tourism – Philippines page, email at touristassistance@tourism.gov.ph, or the Click2Call and Live Webchat on http://www.tourism.gov.ph.
