The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has committed to aiding Cebu’s ongoing recovery from the catastrophic 6.9 magnitude earthquake experienced on September 30.

On October 1, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and President Ferdinand R Marcos Jnr made inspection visits to critical areas for Cebu’s tourism and hospitality sector, checking for damages and prioritizing the restoration process.

Frasco stated: “We have already deployed teams from our sub-agency Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for assessments.” As of October 3, it was reported that over 900 tourism workers were impacted, alongside more than 47,221 households affected by the tremors.

“Tourism is one of the province’s economic cornerstones,” Frasco emphasized, pledging the DOT’s support for immediate relief through various government departments.

Amid local relief initiatives, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) called for assistance to help the affected communities. Gwen Pang, the secretary-general, noted the urgent need for support to assist over 47,000 households in need of basic necessities.

Filled with resilience, Cebu is determined to navigate through this crisis with collective support from the government and the community at large.