Lifting of state of calamity in Cebu okayed

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Board on Monday, May 4, approved a resolution lifting the state of calamity in the province.

First District Board Member Lakambini Reluya sponsored the resolution lifting the state of the calamity based on the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

The province was placed under the state of calamity due to the devastation casued by the a 6.9-magnitude earthquake last Sept. 30 and Typhoon Tino last Nov. 4.

Based on the assessment of the PDRRMC, the current condition of the towns and cities affected by the twin calamities calamities have already stabilized, allowing the province to proceed from emergency response to recovery and rehabilitation.

“It is necessary to officially lift the declaration of the State of Calamity to restore normal goverance operations and facilitate long-term development” read part of the resolution.

The resolution was approved before the session was disrupted by a 6.1 magnitude quake.

While the state of calamity has been lifted, all government agencies and offices are directed to continue its recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Dennis Pastor, chief of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CPDRRMO), confirmed that the PDRRMC already recommended the lifting of the state of calamity effective April 1.

Pastor said some conditions were made when the PDRRMC recommdned the lifting of the state of calamity.

“Except for the 19 heavily or severely affected LGUS or cities and municipalities kadtong naigo sa linog ug sa bagyong Tino, the governor gave authority for them to maintain or continue with their state of calamity when the condition still warrant,” Pastor told MyTV Cebu in a phone interview.

The council, through PDRRMC Resolution no. 002-2026, recommended lifting Cebu’s state of calamity, stating that emergency response efforts are complete, most evacuation centers are closed (except in Talisay City), utilities and services have been restored, and the supply of basic commodities has returned to normal.

In the same resolution, the council also authorized the local government units (LGUs) of Madridejos, Santa Fe, Bantayan, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue, Talisay, Balamban, and Asturias to declare the localize lifting of the state of calamity if necessary.

Based on the post-disaster needs assessment submitted by the concerned LGUS, the recovery efforts are still ongoing only in the said towns and cities which were the severely affected areas of the earthquake and the typhoon,

“The continued declaration of a State of Calamity is no longer necessary in most parts of Cebu since the situation has stabilized and there are no expected or reported adverse impacts requiring extraordinary government intervention” read the resolution unanimously carried on April 1, 2026.(MyTVCebu)