DOT urges tourists to stay alert after 6.9-magnitude Cebu quake
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- DOT urged tourists to stay cautious after the 6.9-magnitude quake in Cebu.
- Frasco sought urgent aid from national agencies and ordered inspections of heritage sites and tourism establishments.
- Tourist Assistance Call Center remains operational to assist affected travelers.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has urged tourists to exercise caution after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu, with tremors felt across the Visayas and parts of Luzon and Mindanao on the night of Sept. 30.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco also sought urgent assistance from the Office of the President and the secretaries of National Defense, Transportation, Public Works and Highways, and Health after coordinating with Cebu local officials.
She also directed the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to deploy inspection teams to assess damage to heritage churches in Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Tabogon, and San Remigio.
The teams will likewise check key tourism establishments in Cebu City and northern Cebu to determine the extent of structural impact and guide necessary safety measures.
Authorities warned of possible aftershocks and advised the public to monitor bulletins from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
The department assured tourists and stakeholders that its Tourist Assistance Call Center remains fully operational through hotline 151-TOUR (151-8687) and mobile number 0954-253-3215.
Assistance is also available through the DOT Facebook page, email at [email protected], and online services on the DOT website.