BOGO CITY, Cebu,Philippines – Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco joined Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary (DPWH) Vince Dizon and Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard Gordon in visiting the Tent City in Bogo City, the ground zero of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu on September 30.
On Saturday, (Oct. 4), the three officials were present in Barangay Cogon, Bogo City in Cebu as the PRC began the establishment of at least 2,500 tents for displaced residents.
“The 6.9 magnitude earthquake has left a devastating impact on the northern part of Cebu, and the people are now in the process of being provided with relief. I am here together with Secretary Vince (Dizon) as the construction of the tent cities has begun in Bogo City, in Medellin, and will soon begin here in San Remigio,” the Secretary said in an interview.
The tent city will have water stations, sanitation facilities, and other necessary amenities. The neighboring towns of Medellin and San Remigio will also receive the same intervention.
Likewise, Secretary Frasco noted that the DOT is working together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide necessary support for the earthquake victims, including food packs, emergency cash transfer, and alternative livelihood training program.
“The intent being that, upon instructions of the President, we are able to provide food on the table for those that were affected, and of course, water, shelter, electricity, those are all very important,” she added.
“For tourism, since Cebu continues to be one of the most popular tourism destinations in the Philippines, and tourism is a vital industry here, we are making sure to assist our tourism frontliners. We have already provided family food packs to nearly 1,000 tourism frontliners together with the DSWD, and we’re endorsing them as well for alternative livelihood training and emergency cash transfer,” she said.
Meanwhile, as the earthquake struck the province, the Tourism Secretary has joined many Cebuanos in the spirit of bayanihan, extending a personal donation of Php 3,000 each to some 50 affected tourism workers.
The tourism chief also met with the parish priests of San Juan Nepomuceno Parish and St. Ignatius Loyola Parish to provide assistance for the restoration and rehabilitation of the churches.
The DOT, through its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), had earlier conducted ground inspections to assess the extent of damage to the province’s heritage sites.
