123 Cebu tourism facilities, 7 heritage sites damaged in quake

Courtesy of Department of Tourism

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco reported that a total of 123 tourism establishments — including attractions, accommodations, and other facilities — were damaged or destroyed by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu, as local and international assistance continues to pour in for victims and the restoration of damaged sites.

The strong tremor, which claimed 71 lives and injured over 500 people, also damaged seven heritage sites and displaced 1,206 tourism workers, based on data from the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The DOT chief said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), in coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), has begun assessing the extent of damage to the affected heritage structures, most of which are centuries-old churches.

“To manage expectations, it will not be immediate, because the law requires thorough assessment by both the NHCP and the NCCA,” Frasco said, noting that the assessment may take three to six months before repairs can begin.

She added that TIEZA will provide funding assistance sourced from travel tax collections under the Tourism Act. Frasco also distributed P3,000 in personal financial aid to 77 displaced tourism workers, including 30 from Medellin, 26 from Bogo City, and 21 from San Remigio.

Meanwhile, the DOT will endorse jobless tourism workers to the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program for emergency employment assistance.

International support has likewise come in from passengers of the Villa Vie MV Odyssey cruise ship, which recently docked in Cebu, with around $16,000 raised for the relief operations. — Othel V. Campos