The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has mobilized road-clearing operations and expedited hospital repairs in Cebu following the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck the province.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency is prioritizing the restoration of access roads for emergency response and the repair of hospitals to ensure medical services for affected residents.

“Ang instruction ng Pangulo, lahat ng mabilis na magagawa natin, gagawin natin. Para sa DPWH, ang first order ay i-clear po ang mga kalsada (The instruction of the President is to carry out everything that can be done quickly. For DPWH, the first order is to clear the roads),” Dizon said.

He confirmed that nearly 70 people have died as of Oct. 1, including residents of one barangay that was hit by a massive landslide at midnight.

One of the urgent concerns is the Bogo Provincial Hospital, where patients were forced to stay outside after the facility sustained heavy damage.

Dizon ordered its immediate clearing and repair within one day to restore the operating room, emergency room, and delivery room.

He added that no bridges collapsed during the quake but stressed that all structures will undergo inspection to ensure public safety, directing municipal engineers and building officials to conduct structural assessments.

The DPWH chief also tasked the agency’s Region VII office to repair damaged national roads without delay to prevent disruptions in relief operations.

Initial estimates place the earthquake’s damage at nearly ₱2 billion.

Dizon is set to return with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. today, Oct. 2, to oversee continuing operations and further inspections.

“Tuloy-tuloy lang tayo at kailangan po talaga paspasan po talaga ‘yung trabaho doon (We will continue, and the work there really needs to be fast-tracked),” he said.