Bogo Provincial Hospital Undergoes Urgent Repairs After Quake

Repair operations are now underway at the Provincial Hospital in Bogo City, which sustained damage from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30, 2025.

The disaster claimed more than 70 lives and left over 500 people injured, overwhelming health facilities across the province.

To ensure that medical services continue without interruption, ZLREJ Construction Corporation has deployed an initial workforce of around 60 engineers and skilled workers. Their focus is on restoring Buildings 1 and 17, which house the emergency room and operating room — two of the most critical areas for patient care.

The mobilization comes as part of the broader response to a call made by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, who visited the hospital on October 1.

During his inspection, Dizon urged contractors in Cebu to actively join the post-earthquake rebuilding efforts, with special attention to hospitals that remain vital to relief and recovery operations.

Ahead of the repair works, engineers from the DPWH Central Office and the Central Visayas Regional Office conducted a structural assessment of the facility. The evaluation concluded that the hospital was “structurally sound,” clearing the way for immediate repairs to begin.

In line with this finding, the DPWH Regional Office coordinated with ZLREJ Construction to launch repair activities without delay.

The company mobilized its emergency response teams in accordance with Dizon’s directive to “call all contractors and implement repairs immediately.”

“I told the RD tawagan na lahat ng contractor… Sasabihan ko na ang mga private contractor, gawin na nila ito immediately. Mamaya na tayo mag kwentahan dyan, importante we get it up and running immediately,” Dizon told members of the media during an interview in Bogo City.

(I told the regional director to contact all contractors… I will tell the private contractors to do this immediately. We can settle the costs later — what’s important is to get it up and running right away.)

ZLREJ Construction Chief Operating Officer Manlalaban Rejzl Awit confirmed that the company is fully committed to accelerating the hospital’s rehabilitation.

“We will do our best to fast-track the hospital repair and make it usable within a week,” Awit said.

Awit added that ZLREJ Construction arrived at the disaster site just a day after the earthquake hit northern Cebu, immediately participating in emergency response and reconstruction activities.

The ongoing repair work covers several key areas, including the restoration of damaged floors, walls, and roof decks, as well as the repair of water leaks that disrupted hospital operations.

According to ZLREJ’s timetable, the emergency department is expected to be fully functional within one week, while the operating room is targeted for completion within a month. These improvements aim to transfer patients currently being treated in temporary outdoor facilities back into proper hospital wards.

Beyond the hospital, ZLREJ has expanded its emergency support in Bogo City. The company has deployed heavy machinery, such as backhoes, to help build a Tent City that now serves as a temporary evacuation shelter for displaced residents.

Dump trucks have also been dispatched to assist in the delivery of relief goods and essential supplies to communities across Cebu’s Fourth District.

Through these combined efforts, both government agencies and private contractors are working hand in hand to ensure that vital health and shelter services are restored quickly, offering relief to thousands of quake-affected residents.