Cebu quake inflicts P9M damage to fisheries

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CEBU CITY — The 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on Sept. 30 did not only damage houses and public infrastructure.

It also shook the province’s fisheries sector.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported that the fisheries sector in northern Cebu sustained about P9.3 million in damage and losses, based on its initial assessment dated Oct. 13, 2025.

OPA data showed that the tremor affected aquaculture and capture fisheries operations across several northern towns, damaging fish cages, pens, fishing boats, and post-harvest facilities that support local production and trade.

In aquaculture, fish cages, pens, and ponds sustained partial damage worth more than P2.24 million.

Bogo City recorded two damaged fish cages valued at P700,000, while Bantayan, Madridejos and San Remigio reported a combined P1.54 million in losses from damaged fish pens and ponds.

In capture fisheries, the quake destroyed 46 fish aggregating devices (FADs) in Catmon and Borbon, resulting in P885,000 in losses.

The OPA also documented partial damage to 10 fishing boats in Tabuelan, Catmon, Talisay, and Santa Fe, with estimated losses amounting to P175,000.

The Cebu Fish Landing Center in Tabogon and San Remigio sustained total damage worth P6 million, while a corn post-harvest processing facility in Caputatan Sur, Medellin, was also damaged.

The OPA has yet to determine the total cost of the latter’s damage.

Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena said the earthquake mainly affected aquaculture and fisheries rather than crop production.

He explained that many farmers had already completed their harvest before the tremor occurred, reducing potential agricultural losses.

The timing of the quake coincided with the end of the corn harvesting period, which typically runs from late September to October, following the planting season in June.

Saragena said this prevented heavier losses among farmers, noting that ongoing harvest activities before the earthquake helped minimize the impact on agricultural yield.

While the province recorded minimal agricultural losses, the damage to fishery resources still poses a challenge to many fishing communities in the north.

OPA data showed that 31,204 registered fisherfolk and 8,522 registered boats operate in the northern towns of Bantayan, Bogo, Borbon, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Sogod, Tabogon and Tabuelan.

Many of these coastal communities rely heavily on small-scale aquaculture and municipal fishing as their main source of income.

The OPA is still consolidating the number of affected fisherfolk in coordination with local agricultural offices to finalize the list of beneficiaries for assistance.

Among the planned interventions are the distribution of fish cages, bangus (milkfish) fingerlings, feeds for one production cycle, and fish attracting devices to replace those lost or damaged during the earthquake.

These interventions are designed to help affected fisherfolk restart operations and recover faster from the losses.

Saragena said the province will procure the needed materials and supplies through emergency purchase to ensure immediate response and prevent delays that could take several months under regular procurement procedures.

He added that the provincial government aims to restore fishing activities as soon as possible, especially in areas where aquaculture structures and landing facilities were destroyed or rendered unusable.

The OPA said the current figures represent the province’s initial assessment and that field validation and documentation are still ongoing.

The office is working closely with affected local government units to refine damage estimates and confirm the extent of losses across the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Despite the extent of the losses, officials said the province’s early harvesting schedule and the resilience of coastal communities helped limit what could have been a far greater impact on Cebu’s agricultural and fisheries sectors.