As the new year dawns, a shadow of displacement hangs over parts of Cebu, where numerous families are marking the holiday season far from their homes. The lingering aftermath of twin calamities that struck the province in late 2025 has left a trail of destruction and uncertainty, with permanent relocation sites still a distant promise for many.
A Province Reeling from Twin Blows
The sequence of devastation began on September 30, 2025, when a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked Cebu. Its epicenter was located just 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, causing widespread damage. Before communities could fully recover, Typhoon Tino made landfall on November 4, unleashing further havoc. Together, these disasters resulted in significant casualties, claiming hundreds of lives across the province and displacing countless residents.
Stories of Displacement and Uncertainty
In Bogo City, 69-year-old Glenda Lepasana represents the human face of this crisis. Her home in Barangay Nailon, situated along the Bogo Bay Fault line extension, was declared unsafe. She has been living with her niece ever since. Lepasana shared that as of Saturday, December 27, aftershocks were still being felt, and cracks in the ground continue to worsen. Her damaged house suffered more from subsequent storms.
The disaster has also crippled local livelihoods. "Local fishing has been disrupted, leaving the community with little to catch," Lepasana told SunStar Cebu. With no clear relocation plans presented, she spent both Christmas and the New Year away from her home, her future uncertain.
The scene is equally grim in Talisay City. Monica Relatado celebrated Christmas in an evacuation center at Barangay San Isidro after Typhoon Tino's floods, caused by the overflowing Mananga River, swept away her home. A self-employed individual, Relatado lost all her sewing machines in the disaster.
She has appealed to authorities for materials to build a temporary shelter while awaiting permanent relocation. Life in the crowded gymnasium is a daily struggle. "We spent Christmas and New Year here because there's no place to go home to," Relatado said in Cebuano, highlighting inadequate water supply and the lack of proper laundry facilities.
A Long and Winding Road to Recovery
While displaced residents cling to hope for permanent housing, officials have indicated that plans are in motion but will take time to implement. SunStar Cebu sought updates from relevant local government units but had received no response as of the latest press time.
In Cebu City, some are taking matters into their own hands, albeit with great risk. Nora Arcillas of Sitio Upper Common, Barangay Bacayan, began constructing a temporary shelter on higher ground near the Butuanon River after flash floods destroyed her house. Although residents have been permitted to rebuild in the area, the safety of the location remains a serious concern.
Arcillas, who works as a manicurist, acknowledges the danger but says the structure is only a stopgap measure. She borrowed money to buy materials, as a permanent solution seems years away. A December City Government meeting indicated that finalizing a relocation site in Barangay Budlaan could still take a considerable amount of time. For Arcillas and many others, the greatest wish for the New Year is a safe, permanent home, far from the threat of future disasters.
