Six days after the deadly 6.9 earthquake struck on September 30, 2025, residents in northern Cebu are slowly back on their feet.

Survivors were filled with emotions while attending a Holy Mass outside of the devastated Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan town. 

Prior to the Holy Mass, a dance of prayer was offered by children from Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City. 

A traditional Sinulog prayer dance was offered to the victims of the deadly quake. 

The prominent Buenaventura “Turang” Diola Sinug dance group in Mabolo was in northern Cebu in line with their distribution of relief goods.

”Unta tinabangan sa Señor Santo Niño maka-recover og dali ang Daanbantayan ug ubang neighboring municipalities,” said Barangay Mabolo Chairman Daniel Arguedo.

During the Holy Mass offered under tents in the church compound, the parish priest in his homily underscored strengthening faith in the Lord despite various challenges in life. 

“Naay daghang mamatay, apan kung andam malinawon ug dili kalisang ang bation,” Fr. Randy Nebria, parish priest, has reminded the faithful.

Meanwhile, inspection on the destroyed churches in northern Cebu has begun.

Among those who checked are experts from the International Council of Monuments and Sites. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) conducted a rapid assessment on churches.

The experts will set a dialogue with the Archdiocese of Cebu on possible rehabilitation of the shrine.

“This is almost like the condition you have seen in Bohol in 2013, actually I believe you can make a comparison between this and Loay, its facade but I believe there’s more damage here than just that, but definitely with this church we’ll see and investigate structurally,” according to Joselito Corpus, head of the International Committee on Risk Preparedness Philippines.

“As of now we just want to know kung ano yung extent ng damage and yung purpose nito is makagawa ng development plan o yung reconstruction plan and how do we reconstruct this, yung pag-uusapan at pagpaplanohan," said Architect Reynaldo Lita, NHCP chief architect.

After the discovery of the Bogo Bay Fault that generated the magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake in northern Cebu, the  recommended the clearing of the area from permanent residences and structures.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), five meters on each side of the fault line must be cleared.

The fault line is located in Barangay Nailon (na-ee-lon), Barangay Dakit, and Barangay La Paz in Bogo City. PHIVOLCS will delve further into its investigation.

"Alam na natin yung ensaktong location, ang nire-recommend namin within the 5-meter buffer zone, five (5) meters to the left and right yun ang nirerecommend namin na ‘wag na’ng magtayo ng istraktura, marami pong bahay ang natamaan ng fault, so sana ‘wag na po silang bumalik yung mga residente na na-transmit ng fault,” Leo Llamas, member of PHIVOLCS Quick Response Team, said. 

In Barangay Nailon, 200 to 300 houses were devastated, according to its barangay chairman. Residents are set for relocation. 

“Kung pananglitan mao nay kuan nila nga forced evacuate, mag-forced evacuate jud sila kay ang ato gitan-aw ang safety man sa ila, total di man ta kaingon nga kuan, temporary man,” Barangay Nailon Chairman Regan Metante said.