MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT), together with its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), started inspecting heritage structures in Cebu on Thursday, to assess the extent of damages caused by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake last September 30, 2025.
In a news release, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, together with TIEZA and other Cabinet officials, accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as he led the inspection of the Shrine of the Archdiocese of San Vicente Ferrer in Bogo City – one of the heritage structures severely affected by the tremor at ground zero of the disaster.
According to the DOT, the President also convened a briefing among Cabinet and Cebu Provincial officials, led by Governor Pamela Baricuatro at Bogo City Hall, to coordinate government response measures.
“He directed that efforts be carried out in phases—beginning with search and rescue, followed by relief operations, and rehabilitation of infrastructure, including the restoration of heritage sites,” the DOT said.
During the briefing, Secretary Frasco confirmed that TIEZA has begun inspecting damaged heritage churches, in close coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
“Our President led the visit to the Archdiocesan Shrine here in the City of Bogo, and I understand that there are other municipalities whose churches have also been greatly affected,” Frasco said.
“So, we have already deployed teams from TIEZA, our attached agency, to do a rapid assessment and inspection, and we are endorsing as well, to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the other relevant heritage agencies, so that together, we can ensure that the restoration and the rehabilitation of these symbols and living edifices of our faith and our culture can rise again,” she added.
Heritage sites, especially historic churches, hold a unique and significant position within the tourism industry, according to the tourism chief.
“Cebu is the cradle of Christianity in Asia. Here, our eyes were opened to a deep faith that sustains our way of life until this day. And so, our churches have played a central role in our way of life. As Cebuanos, they have provided a place of comfort, of reflection, and a place of unity,” Frasco explained.
“And so, it's very important for us that the government is able to provide help and assistance to determine the extent of the damage, the rehabilitation plans, and most of all, to ensure that these places of worship continue to be a source of hope that people can turn to, especially in these difficult and trying times,” she stated.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., accompanied by members of his Cabinet, and a team from the DOT’s infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), on Thursday (Oct. 2) inspected the Shrine of the Archdiocese of San Vicente Ferrer in Bogo City, Cebu. (Photo and caption courtesy of DOT)
The President also led the inspection of other sites in Bogo City, including the SM Cares Village in Polambato and the Cebu Provincial Hospital, to assess infrastructure damage and deliver immediate government response to affected communities.
“We are very grateful to President Bongbong Marcos for being here and providing relief to our fellow Cebuanos in the form of immediate relief assistance to food and water, the restoration of basic utilities, and pati na rin po 'yung ating assistance in the form of monetary assistance to the province as well as our local government units,” the tourism chief said.
A collapsed housing unit in SM Cares Village in Brgy. Polambato, Bogo City, Cebu (Photo and caption courtesy of DOT)
Meanwhile, Frasco met with affected tourism workers on the sidelines of the President’s visit, with numbers climbing to at least 900 tourism workers needing immediate assistance.
“Nakipagpulong po tayo sa ating mga tourism workers kanina. Sabi po ng ating regional office ay sumobra na po sa 900 'yung affected tourism workers dito sa Cebu dahil nga turismo is one of the most important industries for Cebu,” she mentioned.
“We have determined that there are many tourism establishments that have been affected and that have led to the loss of livelihoods of our tourism workers. Therefore, we have included them as a priority in terms of the provision of immediate relief through the DSWD and for the eventual provision of cash assistance as well as alternative livelihood assistance in the weeks and months to come,” she added.
