The entire Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity after multiple deaths and massive destruction were confirmed on Wednesday (October 1) following the strong earthquake that struck the province on Tuesday evening (September 30).
The declaration was approved in an emergency online session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan presided over by Vice Governor Glenn Soco. Provincial Board members joined remotely from their districts as they monitored the situation and coordinated with local officials.
The measure enables the provincial government to tap calamity funds, impose price controls on basic goods if needed, and speed up the delivery of relief, rehabilitation, and recovery assistance to affected communities.
The board’s virtual session was also prompted by the ongoing safety inspection of the Cebu Provincial Legislative Building to ensure the welfare of employees and officials after the quake.
Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage and urged residents to remain alert as aftershocks may continue in the coming days.
“The provincial government, through Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s Executive Order No. 57 and a resolution passed by the Provincial Board this morning, has placed the Province of Cebu under a state of calamity,” the provincial government said.
Heavy damage and widespread disruption were reported in several northern Cebu towns after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck late Tuesday night.
The towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, and San Remigio—as well as the epicenter Bogo City—were among the hardest hit. In Daanbantayan, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima—a heritage church more than a century old—sustained major damage.
San Remigio officials declared a state of calamity, citing “widespread damage and disruption to the lives of our constituents.”
The advisory signed by Mayor Mariano Martinez and Vice Mayor Alphonsine Corominas-Gonzales “aims to facilitate immediate response and relief efforts, including the mobilization of resources, provision of assistance to affected communities, and implementation of measures to prevent further harm.”
Medellin reported one death and multiple injuries, with victims being treated by the local disaster office.
The quake also caused the collapse of a water tank in Poblacion, rendered Dagunsungan and Bangon bridges impassable, and inflicted cracks on the town’s port. The municipal jail was damaged, though all 404 detainees were accounted for.
In Cebu City, patients were evacuated from the Cebu City Medical Center as a precaution against aftershocks, Mayor Nestor Archival said. A fast-food restaurant in Bogo City partially collapsed, though authorities are still verifying if anyone was hurt. Office workers at Cebu Business Park also fled their buildings during the tremor.
The Miss Asia Pacific International beauty pageant, being held in Cebu, was likewise disrupted as contestants and guests scrambled to safety.
Several heritage churches in northern Cebu reportedly suffered significant damages after a strong earthquake rocked the island province.
The centuries-old Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan town has partially collapsed, parishioners announced on social media.
Across the sea, in Bantayan Island, video from residents in Bantayan town captured images of swaying Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol Bantayan, also a heritage church, with lights and portions of its outer facade falling apart.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “San Remigio, Cebu in state of calamity after destructive quake.“
