DOT: Cebu Tourist Rest Areas serve as relief hubs after deadly quake
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- Tourist Rest Areas in Cebu repurposed as donation hubs after 6.9 quake
- Frasco joins Marcos in inspection of quake-hit sites
- Medellin TRA open 24/7 to receive relief goods
- Other TRAs in Moalboal, Carcar, and Carmen also accepting aid
Relief goods pile up at the Medellin Tourist Rest Area in Cebu, repurposed as a donation hub for communities affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake. (Photo courtesy of the Local Government of Medellin, Cebu)
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has repurposed Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) in Cebu, originally built to serve travelers, as donation drop-off centers for communities affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 30.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and other Cabinet officials in inspecting quake-hit areas in the province.
Frasco expressed gratitude to Cebuanos and other Filipinos who extended help, saying the TRAs have become crucial hubs for relief coordination and distribution in the wake of the disaster.
The Municipality of Medellin announced its TRA, located in front of the municipal hall, will remain open 24/7 to accept relief goods and can accommodate all types of vehicles.
Volunteers sort food, water, and other supplies for families in quake-hit communities. (Photo courtesy of the Local Government of Medellin, Cebu)
Frasco said other TRAs in Moalboal, Carcar, and Carmen are likewise open to receive aid, underscoring the facilities’ expanded role beyond tourism.
The TRA project, a flagship program of the DOT in partnership with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), has demonstrated its dual role in advancing tourism while supporting disaster response.