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Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
June 10, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos ordered concerned government agencies yesterday to prioritize the safety and welfare of displaced families as well as patients in hospitals affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on Monday.
Marcos presided over a situation briefing at Malacañang to assess the ongoing government response and the situation of the people in quake-hit areas.
The President is scheduled to visit Mindanao, according to Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, but she did not immediately provide details.
Castro said the President instructed Energy Secretary Sharon Garin to speed up the restoration of electricity supply to hospitals.
During the situation briefing, Marcos spoke via Zoom with General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao to discuss the situation on the ground and their immediate needs, Castro said.
Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported that the agency is working closely with the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Coast Guard to airlift relief supplies to areas that remain inaccessible by land.
The Department of Health has also deployed sufficient medical assistance and supplies for earthquake victims, while the Department of Education has been constantly coordinating with local government units to ensure the safety and welfare of students in affected schools.
Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda reported that connectivity in affected areas remains stable.
Castro said the Department of Energy reported that power supply has already been restored in many parts of Mindanao.
Relief operations
Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Gatchalian inspected the operations of two of the agency’s mobile command centers (MCCs) from Field Office 9 and Field Office 12 to ensure timely provision of on-the-ground disaster response updates.
“The President instructed us not to leave until our local residents here have recovered from the aftermath, and the victims and their families who have fortunately survived the powerful earthquake,” he told local reporters in General Santos City.
The DSWD has so far provided humanitarian assistance worth over P4.23 million to victims. Its Field Office 9 has distributed ready-to-eat food packs to over 1,000 families displaced by a tsunami alert in Sarangani.
Repair works
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said repair works will be started as soon as possible on public infrastructure that sustained damage following Monday’s earthquake.
Dizon, who flew to General Santos City Monday afternoon, continued to hold inspection of major roads and bridges in South Cotabato and Davao region yesterday.
In Davao City, Dizon inspected the Bucana Bridge and assured motorists that it is safe as the impact was limited to minor, non-structural defects on the bridge’s approach, such as damaged guardrails and superficial concrete cracking.
The infrastructure situation was significantly more severe along the General Santos City-T’boli-Surallah Road, where an earthquake-induced landslide completely cut off a vital section of the highway. Dizon ruled out rebuilding on the original site due to severe geological instability.
To bypass the destruction, Dizon ordered DPWH engineers to conduct a technical assessment to design a permanent detour road shifted safely into the opposite hillside.
Private contractor JDRC has deployed heavy equipment to the site to begin emergency breakthrough operations, while DPWH field crews carry out clearing operations on secondary landslide areas along the highway.
Price freeze
A price freeze is now in effect on basic goods in General Santos City, which was placed under a state of calamity, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters yesterday that the price freeze will be in place for 60 days.
Those covered by the price freeze include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry or detergent soap, candles, bread, iodized salt, instant noodles and bottled water. – Delon Porcalla, Rainier Allan Ronda, Louella Desiderio, Roel Pareño, Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas, Diana Lhyd Suelto
