Bells toll as Cebu marks first year since deadly quake

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Bells tolled at 9:59 p.m. in Bogo City, San Remigio and Medellin in northern Cebu on Wednesday, Sept. 30, as communities paid respects to the 79 people killed in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the province exactly a year ago.

Holy Masses and other commemorative activities were also held in some of the areas hardest hit by the quake, as residents continue to grapple with the trauma left by the disaster.

A year after the earthquake, however, Cebu’s recovery remains far from complete.

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READ: Another strong quake strikes Bogo City in Cebu

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The estimated cost of rehabilitation in the province’s hard-hit 3rd and 4th districts has already reached P19 billion, according to Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro.

The provincial government has committed about P750 million for recovery efforts, while about P180 million has already been spent on the rehabilitation of schools, learning spaces and bridges.

Baricuatro said the province is still awaiting the release of additional assistance, including a promised P1 billion from the national government’s Quick Response Fund, as government agencies work to address the extensive damage.

The governor estimated that the recovery effort is only at 20 percent because of the lack of resources.

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The Regional Development Council has adopted a three-year recovery plan covering infrastructure, housing, agriculture and northern ports, among other areas. The plan is intended to coordinate interventions from national government agencies, the provincial government and local government units.

Baricuatro said the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Public Works and Highways have begun work on vital infrastructures such as bridges, while the provincial government continues to undertake other projects in northern Cebu.

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Preparedness lessons

The Cebu provincial government also held a Holy Mass on Tuesday at the Capitol to commemorate the tragedy that affected over 750,000 individuals across Central Visayas. 

For Baricuatro, one of the clearest lessons from the earthquake was the importance of preparedness and rapid response.

In the immediate aftermath of the quake, patients from Bogo were evacuated and transported to hospitals in Danao City, the University of Cebu and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center using standby ambulances.

The province has since expanded its disaster response capacity.

When the current administration took office, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office had only three personnel, Baricuatro said. It now has nearly 100 staff members and operates from a dedicated disaster center in Busay.

The provincial government has also acquired additional rescue equipment and other resources intended to strengthen emergency response.

Fault line complicates rebuilding

Recovery efforts have also been complicated by geological concerns that arose after the quake.

These include the identification of an active fault in northern Cebu, called the Bogo Bay Fault Line, and the dozens of sinkholes that appeared since then, raising concerns about where damaged homes, schools and government facilities can be safely rebuilt.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) reported more than 70 sinkholes in northern Cebu following the Sept. 30, 2025 earthquake, with the highest numbers recorded in San Remigio and Bogo City.

Baricuatro said local governments still need to update their land-use plans and incorporate the latest geological hazard information into development decisions.

She also cited the expansion of one monitored geological site to about 20 meters in diameter as an indication of the need for continued monitoring and careful land-use planning.

The provincial government is coordinating safety guidelines with local governments, but LGUs retain authority over decisions on the relocation and rebuilding of schools, government centers and other facilities.

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Meanwhile, displaced families are being transitioned into local resettlement programs, with municipalities and cities such as Talisay and Mandaue pursuing their own housing initiatives to move residents out of temporary tent communities. /cb