Tourism workers affected by quake get financial aid

CEBU, Philippines — More than 1,000 tourism workers across Northern Cebu, whose livelihoods were disrupted by the magnitude-6.9 earthquake, have received financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program.

The payout, implemented in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), aims to help affected workers recover from income losses caused by the disaster following the earthquake that hit Northern Cebu hardest on September 30, 2025.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said the tourism sector was among the hardest hit by the earthquake, making immediate assistance essential.

“It is important to emphasize that workers in the tourism industry across Northern Cebu have been among the most severely affected by the earthquake. This emergency cash assistance offers them a vital boost, a firm first step toward rebuilding their livelihoods, restoring hope, and helping our communities rise together from this disaster,” Lucero said.

Each beneficiary received ?10,125, with a total of 1,974 individuals granted aid amounting to ?18,164,250.

A total of 1,794 recipients came from seven municipalities and one city, including San Remigio with 439 beneficiaries, Medellin with 381, Daanbantayan with 393, Santa Fe with 97, Bantayan with 83, 19 from Tabuelan, 26 from Borbon, and Bogo City with 356 beneficiaries.

The distribution was facilitated by DSWD-7 personnel, with beneficiaries receiving their assistance during the payout held at the Bogo City Sports Complex.

DSWD-7 said the ECT is part of the government’s broader effort to provide immediate relief and help communities begin the process of recovery following the quake.

It can be recalled that at least 4,063 tourism workers in Northern Cebu were affected to varying degrees by the magnitude-6.9 earthquake, according to DOT-7, prompting the agency to endorse them for emergency cash assistance under DSWD’s ECT program.