By Helen Castaño, I. Inojales | 08:18 PM October 06, 2025
CEBU CITY — Governor Aris Aumentado on Monday personally turned over a P5-million check from the Provincial Government of Bohol to Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro on Monday, expressing Bohol’s solidarity and support for the people of Cebu following the devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu last week.
Aumentado was joined by Provincial Administrator Aster Caberte and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Anthony Damalerio during the turnover held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. The financial assistance aims to help Cebu’s ongoing relief and recovery efforts for thousands of families affected by the disaster.
The magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake hit northern Cebu at 9:59 p.m. on September 30, with the epicenter located about 20 kilometers northeast of Bogo City. The tremor registered Intensity VII (Destructive) in the towns of Bogo, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, and Tabuelan, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
As of October 5, at least 71 people were confirmed dead, while more than 590 others were injured. Nearly 210,000 families, or over 370,000 individuals, were affected, with thousands displaced after their homes were damaged or destroyed. Damage to roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals has reached an estimated P2–P3 billion, while more than 6,000 aftershocks have been recorded since the main quake.
Aumentado said Bohol understands Cebu’s plight, recalling Bohol’s own experience during the 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake.
“We know how it feels to start again after such devastation. Bohol stands with Cebu as it rises and rebuilds,” Aumentado said.
Baricuatro thanked the province of Bohol for the assistance, describing the gesture as a symbol of unity and compassion between neighboring islands.
The provincial government of Bohol reiterated that in times of calamity, “SugBohol remains one — in strength, resilience, and hope.”
