Philippines: New Cebu Shepherd Orders Structural Inspections After 6.9-Magnitude Quake Rattles Archdiocese

Barely a day after his installation as the new shepherd of Cebu on September 30, Archbishop Alberto S. Uy was immediately confronted with a major crisis when a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the island province in central Philippines.

Through Msgr. Renato Beltran Jr., Archbishop Uy issued his first official directive, ordering immediate structural inspections across all parishes and rectories in the Archdiocese of Cebu. 

The quake, generated by a strike-slip fault off the northern coast, left at least 61 people dead and more than 140 injured as of this writing. Instrumental intensities reached Intensity VII (Destructive) in Bogo, San Remigio, and Daanbantayan, areas where bridges, government buildings, homes, and churches sustained significant damage.

The quake’s epicenter was traced to Bogo City, where at least 27 people were confirmed dead.

On the morning of October 1, the Cebu Provincial Government placed the entire province under a state of calamity to allow the release of emergency funds and expedite response operations.

“To the parishes in the North that have been gravely affected, you are asked to refrain from using your churches for the celebration of the Holy Mass until the proper experts have carried out the assessment and declared the structures safe for use,” the archbishop’s advisory read.

Among the damaged structures was the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan. 

Across the sea in Bantayan Island, residents in the town of Bantayan captured video of the Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol, another heritage church, swaying as lights flickered and parts of its outer façade crumbled.

With over 280 aftershocks recorded, several parishes have relocated liturgical celebrations outdoors as safety checks continue. Power outages, cracked roads, and toppled walls have created an emergency, with thousands of residents displaced or sleeping outdoors. 

Cebu, known as the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines, is the country’s largest archdiocese, home to around five million Catholics.

In his message, the newly installed archbishop urged the faithful to respond with faith rather than fear. 

“We entrust ourselves, our families, and our communities into God’s merciful hands,” he said. “May the Lord shelter us under His wings, protect us from every harm, and guide us to safety and peace.”

(Oliver Samson is a freelance writer based in the Philippines. He contributes regularly to reputed Catholic magazines and platforms both in the country and abroad.)