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Cebu Earthquake — Photo from San Remigio LGU

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Cebu before dawn on Monday, cracking a road near Hagnaya Integrated School in San Remigio and prompting authorities to assess damage and enforce safety measures.

The tremor hit at 1:06 a.m. with a shallow depth of about 5 km; its epicenter was located roughly 11 km southwest of Bogo City, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Photos from the local government showed fissures along a section of roadway in Barangay Hagnaya, San Remigio, after the quake. Municipal and provincial officials cordoned affected areas while engineers examined public infrastructure for structural risks.

The Cebu provincial government said it was coordinating with first responders and local governments to speed inspections and relief efforts.

PHIVOLCS described the event as part of the ongoing aftershock sequence following the Sept. 30 magnitude 6.9 mainshock that caused extensive damage in northern Cebu.

The agency has recorded thousands of aftershocks since that event, with Monday’s tremor among the strongest to jolt the region in recent days.

Residents across Bogo City and neighboring towns reported strong shaking, but there were no immediate official reports of major injuries or widespread new damage beyond localized cracking.

Local disaster risk reduction units advised communities to remain alert for aftershocks and to avoid structures showing signs of distress until cleared by engineers.

School administrators in affected areas prepared contingency measures pending inspection results. Transport officials monitored road and bridge conditions, while power and communications providers checked networks for service interruptions.

The latest quake came three days after powerful offshore earthquakes in Mindanao triggered brief tsunami advisories and underscored the country’s broader seismic activity.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where tectonic plates frequently interact, producing earthquakes of varying magnitudes. Authorities urged the public to follow official advisories and rely on verified updates as assessments continue in northern Cebu.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Councilor Seeks 20% CCLEX Toll Discount for Seniors, PWDs

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October 12, 2025

CROSSING the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) may soon cost less for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) if a new proposal at the Cebu City Council gains traction.

Councilor Harry Eran has filed a resolution urging CCLEX management to grant a 20% toll discount to seniors and PWDs, aligning fees with national laws that extend fare privileges to vulnerable sectors.

He cited RA 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) and RA 10754 (expanded PWD benefits), which mandate a 20% discount and VAT exemption on specified goods and services, including land transportation.

While tolls are not expressly listed, Eran argued they form part of daily transportation expenses, consistent with the laws’ spirit and a 2009 Supreme Court ruling upholding the State’s authority to require discounts in the public interest.

The push comes as CCLEX implements its full toll rate adjustment approved by the Local Toll Regulatory Council effective October 1, 2025.

New rates are ₱68 for Class 1M motorcycles (110cc–399cc), ₱107 for Class 1 (≥400cc motorcycles, cars, jeeps, pickups, small vans), ₱214 for Class 2 (light trucks, buses, high-roof vans), and ₱321 for Class 3 (heavy/multi-axle trucks and trailers).

To ease the transition, PUVs and Class 1M RFID users are temporarily shielded from the full hike for three months; Class 1M RFID riders continue to pay ₱65, while PUV operators keep the ₱200 rate during the waiver period.

Eran said extending the statutory 20% discount to CCLEX tolls would “faithfully reflect legislative intent” while promoting social equity, accessibility, and mobility for marginalized groups. CCLEX management has yet to publicly respond to the proposal.

Illness and Trauma Persist in Cebu Quake Shelters

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October 12, 2025

Bogo Cebu Earthquake — A family make use of a makeshift tent on the roadside in Bogo City. Photo by Neil Villa

Nearly two weeks after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, thousands of evacuees remain in temporary shelters, grappling with a dual crisis of spreading illness and psychological distress.

Respiratory infections are rising rapidly in crowded tents, while many families continue to reel emotionally from the disaster.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mary Ann Josephine Arsenal said on Friday, October 11, that survivors cannot be expected to “bounce back immediately” from such a catastrophe, adding that ridicule and negative remarks only deepen their burden.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has confirmed 75 cases of acute respiratory infection—50 in Borbon and 25 in Sogod—with other towns reporting wounds and unexplained fevers. Arsenal said heat, rain, and cramped conditions are accelerating transmission.

“Kon mahimo, dili lang mosuroy sa laing mga tents” to avoid picking up and passing along infections, she urged, advising residents to limit movement between shelters.

The PHO has dispatched three waves of medicines and vitamins to Bogo City and nearby municipalities including San Remigio, Medellin, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, and Tabogon.

In Bogo, where more than 34,000 families remain displaced, the City Health Office has logged a steady increase in coughs, colds, and fevers, mostly among children and the elderly.

Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Shiela Faciol said mobile medical teams make daily rounds, each attending to 80–100 patients, noting that wide day-night temperature swings aggravate symptoms.

Despite limited facilities, no diarrhea or food-poisoning cases have been reported. Donations from private groups and other LGUs continue to bolster medicine and vitamin supplies.

In Medellin’s island barangay of Gibitngil, local officials rescued a family of 12 on October 8 after reports of severe psychological distress. The group, including a pregnant woman and a child, had refused food and water for days following the quake; they are now stable after treatment.

To address mental health needs, the PHO has deployed 90 specialists to deliver psychological first aid, conduct responder debriefings, and provide mental-health education to affected families.

Arsenal said psychosocial support has become one of the most challenging fronts in the recovery.

The earthquake left 74 dead, 559 injured, and nearly 72,000 houses damaged across northern Cebu, displacing over 411,000 people who now face both visible injuries and the less-seen wounds of trauma.

Cebu Business News

Cebu courts move hearings online as quake-damaged Quimonda building declared unsafe

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October 8, 2025

All court hearings in Cebu have shifted online after engineers ordered the immediate evacuation of the Quimonda I.T. Center, which sustained visible cracks from last week’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

The Office of the Building Official (OBO), the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), and the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) inspected the structure and declared it unsafe until repairs are completed.

Architect Florante Catalan, head of the OBO, urged occupants to vacate the building without delay.
“Need sila mo-clean sa area para mapaspas ang trabaho. Atong ma-recommend initially is to vacate ang mga tawo para continuous ang repair ug malikayan ang disgrasya,” he said on Tuesday, October 7.

Located along Don Sergio Osmeña Avenue in the North Reclamation Area, the Quimonda I.T. Center houses most of Cebu City’s Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCCs).

CDRRMC head and Councilor Dave Tumulak said the city government and building management agreed to empty the premises immediately, adding that repairs may take up to three months.

Court operations will continue through videoconferencing, while the outdoor ground-floor area remains open for bail posting.

The Supreme Court, through Circular No. 291-2025 issued by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) on October 4, suspended work in trial courts located in earthquake-damaged buildings in Cebu City, Bogo City, Iloilo City, and Roxas City.

The OCA instructed affected courts to handle urgent matters—including bail applications, release orders, and habeas corpus petitions—through online or on-call arrangements, and to coordinate with Regional Court Administrators to secure temporary venues.

Tumulak said the Quimonda building had sustained earlier structural damage from the 2013 earthquake, which was worsened by last week’s tremor. He urged building owners and safety officers to conduct retrofitting once risks are detected.

City engineers have inspected about 80% of school buildings in Cebu City, finding around 2% needing major repairs, mostly in upland barangays. Mayor Nestor Archival said schools cleared by engineers can gradually resume in-person classes.

Archival added that the city will also inspect major infrastructure—including Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) structures—before the system’s pilot run, assuring residents that safety checks remain a top priority in the ongoing quake response.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Lawmaker Raps Quake Relief

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October 6, 2025

20d7ee3e-3d14-426f-9f66-0d999246a798 — Photo: Beyond Legislation Facebook page

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Bogo City and nearby towns on Sept. 30 has sparked criticism of the Cebu provincial government’s relief efforts, with a local lawmaker on Monday calling the response slow and uncoordinated.

Provincial Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, a Bogo native and president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), told a provincial board session he faced pressure from residents for updates that he said were not clearly communicated by the province.

“I am a member of this institution, and when I face my constituents, I have no answers to give,” he said, responding to claims that provincial aid had been sent directly to communities. “I had to ask my fellow barangay officials if you had received such aid. I can show you the actual records of what Bogo received.”

Martinez also urged online critics to refrain from targeting volunteers, barangay officials and municipal staff, many of whom were also affected by the quake. “We share the same frustration and helplessness … but we are doing everything humanly possible to secure more assistance and deliver it swiftly,” he said.

He said tighter coordination was needed to avoid duplication and to reach areas still waiting for supplies. Martinez noted the recent elevation of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office into a full department, a measure he authored, saying the move had proved critical.

Bogo City Mayor Mayel Martinez, his sister, described provincial operations as “chaotic” and “disorganized,” citing traffic and logistics bottlenecks that slowed deliveries to some barangays. She said lessons from past typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic had not prevented fresh challenges after the quake.

Hours before the session, Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the province remained committed to supporting local governments. She called for collaboration and direct feedback from residents to improve relief operations and overall response.

Cebu Business News

Aboitiz Mobilises Support After Cebu Earthquake

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October 6, 2025

Aboitiz Group said it has mobilised relief operations for communities hit by the Cebu earthquake, providing food, water and essential goods to 3,600 families and beginning power-plant recovery work to help stabilise the Visayas grid.

As of Oct. 3, the conglomerate had allocated more than 2.5 million pesos ($43,800) in assistance, distributing 11,385 litres of water, 3,600 food packs and 2,000 non-food items, with figures subject to updates as operations continue.

The company said 11 CitySavings employees in Bogo City were affected and have received support, while staff volunteers joined distribution efforts.

AboitizPower restored one generating unit at Therma Visayas Inc. after safety inspections, with full operations targeted by Monday to bolster supply to the regional grid.

Relief work drew on units including Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Aboitiz Foundation, AboitizPower, Visayan Electric, UnionBank, CitySavings, AboitizFoods, Aboitiz InfraCapital and its airport and water arms, Unity Digital Infrastructure, AboitizLand, Aboitiz Economic Estates and Aboitiz Construction.

The efforts were coordinated with partners such as the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Philippine Red Cross (Cebu Chapter), the Philippine Coast Guard and Auxiliary, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Lapu-Lapu City, the company said. Aboitiz Foundation said it would continue updating partners and stakeholders as relief deliveries expand.

The earthquake struck northern Cebu on Sept. 30, prompting subsidence warnings in several municipalities and disrupting basic services.

Private sector groups and utilities have been racing to restore power and deliver supplies to affected areas while local governments restrict access to high-risk zones and assess infrastructure damage.

Cebu Business News

Authorities Warn of Sinkholes, Ground Cracks in Northern Cebu After 6.9 Quake

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October 5, 2025

Authorities have warned residents in northern Cebu to stay alert for sinkholes and widening ground cracks following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the province on Sept. 30, as experts caution that ground subsidence could worsen without proper safety measures.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas (MGB-7) said the quake has destabilized soil in several municipalities and cities, prompting the agency to issue a Subsidence Threat Advisory covering San Remigio, Medellin, Bogo City, Tabogon, and Daanbantayan — areas now classified as high-risk zones.

“The recent seismic activity has destabilized ground conditions, resulting in the formation of sinkholes in certain affected areas,” the bureau said. “Ground cracks and depressions were also noted nearby, indicating potential progression of the subsidence.”

Local governments were told to cordon off sinkhole-prone sites, install warning signs, and bar residents from entering hazardous areas. The bureau also warned against backfilling or covering sinkholes without proper geotechnical assessment, especially in areas with underground rivers that could trigger further collapses or flooding.

Two technical teams have been deployed to conduct field validation and collect data for a comprehensive geohazard assessment report, the MGB said.

In Medellin, all barangays with confirmed sinkholes have been classified under a high subsidence hazard rating. Similar advisories were sent to neighboring towns.

San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez said the municipality had recorded more than 100 sinkholes even before the earthquake, with 15 new ones emerging after the tremor.

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from Sitio Sansan in Barangay Maño, where some cavities were large enough to swallow trees, boats, and parts of houses. Martinez said several sinkholes were filled with underground water, weakening the soil further and raising the risk of collapse.

Families living near the largest cavities have been relocated while structural inspections continue for schools and public buildings in Hagnaya and surrounding barangays.

The MGB urged residents to immediately report new cracks or sinkholes and avoid rebuilding in unstable zones. It added that continuous monitoring, proper information dissemination, and strict adherence to geohazard warnings are critical to ensuring public safety amid ongoing aftershocks and heavy rains.

A final geohazard report will guide local governments in designing mitigation and relocation programs for affected communities, the bureau said.

Cebu Business News

Cebu’s Chek Technologies Showcases PLATEAU at Geeks on a Beach 2025

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October 3, 2025

Chek at GOAB 1 — Co-founders Ellieken D. Lim and Christiansen Hermosilla presented PLATEAU, the firm’s new organizational intelligence platform, to an audience of investors and startup stakeholders.

Homegrown startup Chek Technologies took center stage at this year’s Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) conference in Mactan as co-founders Ellieken D. Lim and Christiansen Hermosilla unveiled PLATEAU, the company’s new organizational intelligence platform designed to help businesses work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

Presented before an audience of investors, founders, and key stakeholders in the Philippine tech community, PLATEAU highlighted how Cebu-based startups are gaining traction in building globally relevant solutions.

The three-day conference, held at JPark Island Resort Hotel, gathered hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, and government leaders. Now on its eighth run since 2013, GOAB has become a landmark event for the country’s innovation ecosystem.

Chek co-founder Ellieken D. Lim with Leslie D. Lim, CEO of LDL Group of Companies, the early backer of Chek Technologies.

“This year’s GOAB is not just about showcasing technology and design. It’s about resilience, rebuilding, and how the Philippine startup community can help shape an ethical, sustainable, and brighter future for humanity,” said Dave Overton, founder and CEO of Symph, which organizes the event.

Government agencies also underscored their support for the startup sector. The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) cited the National Broadband Program and the eGovPH app, which now has over 13 million users, as key enablers of digital innovation.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) likewise stressed programs to bridge research and commercialization gaps and expand mentorship.

Beyond technology, GOAB spotlighted grassroots innovation in healthcare, creative industries, and music, featuring initiatives such as Learning Board, Creative Club, Door to Asia, and September Fever.

Cebu’s role as a startup hub was further strengthened through Zero Ten Park’s new partnership with U.S.-based accelerator Gener8tor, opening doors for local founders to tap into global networks.

“GOAB is where collaboration occurs. It’s a place where resilience and creativity meet opportunity. And in 2025, it will once again serve as the platform through which the Philippines connects to the world,” Overton said.

Cebu Business News

Marcos Pledges P150m In Aid for Cebu Quake-Hit Areas

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October 2, 2025

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday pledged P150 million in immediate financial assistance to communities in northern Cebu devastated by a powerful earthquake earlier this week.

The funds, drawn from the Office of the President, will be distributed to Cebu Province (P50 million), Bogo City, San Remigio and Sogod (P20 million each), while Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Tabogon, Tabuelan and Medellin will each receive P10 million, officials said.

Marcos visited Bogo City, near the quake’s epicenter, where he inspected collapsed homes at the SM Cares Village, a relocation site originally built for survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2014. He also toured the damaged Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish Church of St. Vicente Ferrer and a public school building that was declared unsafe.

At Cebu Provincial Hospital in Daanbantayan, where patients were being treated in tents and temporary wards, Marcos assured residents that the government would step up support. He directed agencies to intensify relief and rehabilitation efforts across affected towns.

The president was joined by several Cabinet members, including Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and Energy Secretary Sharon Guarin.

Marcos later presided over a situation briefing at Bogo City Hall with local leaders to coordinate recovery and relief operations.

Cebu Business News

6.9-Magnitude Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 22

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October 1, 2025

At least 22 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck Cebu late on Tuesday, officials said.

Nine of the fatalities were reported in Bogo City, the quake’s epicenter, according to the Cebu Provincial Information Office. The deaths also included three coast guard personnel, a firefighter and a child in the nearby towns of Medellin and San Remigio.

Some victims in San Remigio died when debris collapsed on spectators at a basketball game, while a child was killed after being pinned by rubble at home. Search and rescue operations remain underway.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially measured the tremor at magnitude 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9. The shallow quake struck at 9:59 p.m. local time with an epicenter in Bogo, making surrounding towns especially vulnerable.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro said relief operations were mobilized, with disaster teams assessing road access to affected areas. The health department has dispatched trauma teams and medical supplies to Bogo, while Malacañang pledged immediate national aid.

In Mandaue City, San Miguel Brewery reported an ammonia leak following the quake. The Bureau of Fire Protection said the leak had been contained, with no serious injuries reported.

The Coast Guard raised its alert status, deploying search dogs and preparing a 97-meter vessel with medical teams for Cebu. San Remigio’s local government recommended declaring a state of calamity to speed relief efforts.

The National Grid Corp of the Philippines said the quake temporarily cut Leyte, Samar and parts of Bohol off from the Cebu-Negros-Panay power grid. Inspections of substations and transmission lines are ongoing.

Cebu Business News

Geeks on a Beach 2025 Opens in Cebu, Spotlighting Startups, Grassroots Innovation

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September 29, 2025

The Philippines’ flagship tech and startup conference, Geeks on a Beach (GOAB), opened on Monday in Cebu, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, creatives and policymakers to highlight the country’s growing innovation ecosystem.

Now in its eighth edition since launching in 2013, GOAB has become a platform for collaboration and investment, with a focus this year on resilience, ethical innovation and grassroots initiatives. The three-day event is being held at JPark Island Resort Hotel in Mactan.

“This year’s GOAB is not just about showcasing technology and design. It’s about resilience, rebuilding, and how the Philippine startup community can help shape an ethical, sustainable, and brighter future for humanity,” said organizer Dave Overton, founder and CEO of Symph.

Government agencies stressed their role in enabling startups. The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) cited the rollout of the National Broadband Program and the eGovPH app, which now has over 13 million users, as infrastructure that underpins digital innovation.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) underscored efforts to bridge research and commercialization gaps and expand mentorship programs.

This year’s program also highlights grassroots innovation in healthcare, creative industries and music. Projects featured include Learning Board, a family and community health initiative; Creative Club, a co-working hub for artists; Door to Asia, a designer-community linkup; and September Fever, a homegrown music festival.

GOAB’s collaborative legacy continues through Zero Ten Park’s new partnership with U.S.-based accelerator Gener8tor, which aims to connect Philippine startups to global networks.

“GOAB is where collaboration occurs. It’s a place where resilience and creativity meet opportunity. And in 2025, it will once again serve as the platform through which the Philippines connects to the world,” Overton said.

Cebu Business News

Prince Retail Ramps Up Inclusive Business Push After ASEAN Recognition

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September 29, 2025

Cebu-based Prince Retail Group said it will expand its social enterprise initiatives across the Philippines after being recognized as a model inclusive business at the 8th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur.

The company, which operates Prince Hypermart stores, was honored for its business model that combines profitability with community upliftment and financial inclusion, particularly in underserved provinces and islands.

Prince Hypermart runs 74 stores in 27 provinces, serving about 100,000 customers daily and supplying more than 50,000 sari-sari stores each month.

Beyond retail, the chain has developed into a community hub, offering access to basic banking services through partners such as Bank of the Philippine Islands and providing nearly 1 billion pesos ($17 million) annually in working capital to micro-entrepreneurs.

“Our mission has always been clear — to serve the underserved,” said Robert Go, founder and chairman of Prince Retail Group. “Inclusive business is not about giving things away; it is about building systems of trust, discipline, and partnership that allow communities to grow with you.”

The group’s recognition underscores the scalability of its model, which integrates modern retail, supply chain efficiencies, and financial services to reach low-income and remote areas.

Following the award, Prince Retail said it plans to accelerate store openings in Mindanao and strengthen its ecosystem of sari-sari stores and local suppliers.

Its long-term “one town, one Prince” vision seeks to position retail as a driver of inclusive development.

Cebu Business News

MCIA To Restore US Link with PAL’s New Cebu–Guam Flights

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September 29, 2025

Cebu-Guam Flight — Athanasios “Thanos” Titonis, CEO, Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation, MCIA’s operator.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will regain a direct connection to the United States in December with the launch of Philippine Airlines’ Cebu–Guam service, further strengthening its role as a hub for the central and southern Philippines.

Starting December 16, the flag carrier will operate three weekly flights between Cebu and Guam, marking its first direct service on the route.

It will also be Cebu’s first nonstop link to a US destination since PAL ended its Cebu–Los Angeles service in 2017.

Guam, a US Pacific territory, attracts leisure travelers with its beaches and heritage sites, while also serving as a commercial hub and home to a large overseas Filipino community.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation, MCIA’s operator, said the new route expands international choices for passengers and reinforces Cebu’s role as a secondary gateway outside Metro Manila.

The launch follows a year of network growth at MCIA, which added services to Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane, boosting its reach to 44 destinations served by 21 airlines.

“Cebu is increasingly attractive for airlines looking to diversify Philippine connectivity,” said Athanasios “Thanos” Titonis, chief executive of the airport operator. “We are just at the beginning of Cebu’s rise as a regional hub.”

Cebu Business News

Philippine Airlines Earns 4-Star Rating from APEX

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September 29, 2025