Quake Death Toll Continues To Climb
Bureau of Fire Protection spokesman Supt. Anthony Arroyo said fatalities are already as high as 53, pending validation, with 43 from Soccsksargen and 10 from Davao.
The number of reported deaths due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao on Monday, June 8, climbed to 45 on Wednesday, June 10, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported, as search and rescue operations continue in affected provinces.
The NDRRMC said the number of missing persons also rose from four to 17, all in the Davao and Soccsksargen regions.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Fire Protection spokesman Supt. Anthony Arroyo said fatalities are already as high as 53, pending validation, with 43 from Soccsksargen and 10 from Davao.
The number of injured persons stands at 487 with a total of 149,372 persons affected in both regions plus Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Of the number, some 32,464 persons are taking temporary shelter in 57 different evacuation centers in affected communities.
So far, the NDRRMC said more than P4.8 million worth of both food and non-food assistance has been provided to affected families.
Three days after the tectonic earthquake that recorded its epicenter in Maasim, Sarangani shook Mindanao, accurate estimates on damage to property and infrastructure have yet to be released.
The NDRRMC, meanwhile, gave assurance that search and rescue operations will continue as various disaster response teams come together to provide assistance.
Lending a hand, the Philippine Army’s 18-member Urban Search and Rescue team is also helping in search, rescue and retrieval operations, particularly for a collapsed supermarket in Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City.
Troops and other responders have also facilitated the air evacuation of four rescued residents from Balut Island at the southern tip of Davao Occidental.
The Philippine Army said it has deployed around 253 personnel in General Santos City and other earthquake-hit areas while around 607 personnel are currently on stand-by.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said the Office of the Civil Defense has designated the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the lead agency in the conduct of search and rescue operations.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has ordered an inspection of buildings, infrastructure and residential houses on the southern part of Mindanao, while the Philippine National Police has instructed police commanders to assist isolated communities.
State of calamity
Sarangani Gov. Rogelio Pacquiao, in a statement, said the entire province has been placed under a state of calamity, pursuant to the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
He said the measure aims to expedite the mobilization of emergency resources and the delivery of essential assistance and services to affected people in the province.
The provincial government will continue to prioritize the municipalities of Glan and Malapatan, which suffered the most severe effects of the earthquake, while also ensuring adequate support for Malungon, Alabel, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum towns.
In Davao City, the Office of the City Building Official issued red tag notices to seven buildings and yellow tag notices to 22 buildings following the rapid visual inspection it conducted after the earthquake.
Red tag indicates that occupancy of the building is strictly prohibited, while a yellow tag indicates that the use of the building is restricted.
Red tagged buildings included the Teleperformance Office (part of SM City Davao), VXI Office (part of SM City Davao), Linmar Towers, Bangkal Dormitory, EastWest (AC Premium), Vivaldi Residences Davao and Madayaw Residences (NHA-XI, Building 5).
Yellow tagged buildings were Magallanes Residences (Barcelona and Valencia), Felcris Centrale, Verdon Parc, Alorica, NCCC Buhangin, SSS Medical Building, Abreeza Mall, Pinnacle Hotel and Suites, Avida Towers, BPI, The Paragon Davao, AC Premium, Palmeto Place (Buildings 2 and 3), United Davao Specialists Hospital and Medical Center, Madayaw Residences (Buildings B10 and A5), Coffee Bar and Gaisano Grand City Gate.
Loan moratorium
To provide immediate financial relief to families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Mindanao, the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC) extended its ongoing moratorium of housing loan amortization payments for qualified borrowers, which will end in July 2026, to an additional three months.
Under this program, qualified borrowers may opt to temporarily defer their monthly amortization payments for another three months from August to October 2026 without incurring penalties, surcharges or interest during the moratorium period.
The corresponding loan term will be adjusted and extended for a duration equivalent to the payment suspension.
This initiative aligns with the continuing commitment of President Marcos and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling to provide immediate assistance to homeowners facing financial difficulties brought about by natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances.
NHMFC president Renato Tobias emphasized the corporation’s commitment to responsive and compassionate public service.
“This extended moratorium is more than a payment relief measure; it is National Home Mortgage’s response in standing with our Filipino families during this challenging time to give them the flexibility to rebuild and move forward,” Tobias said.
Borrowers who opt to continue settling their amortization payments during the moratorium period may still pay at all NHMFC offices, through accredited collection partners. For payments made for updated accounts, the moratorium period shall be treated as advance payments.
Globe partners with Starlink
Globe Telecom Inc. has activated its pioneering satellite mobile service in the earthquake-hit provinces of Mindanao, providing more than 700,000 subscribers with free access to connectivity functions.
Globe on Wednesday announced it has teamed up with Starlink to deploy satellite-to-mobile service in Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Roel Pareño, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Aubrey Rose Inosante, Elijah Felice Rosales
