By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Reporter
AT LEAST 19 people were killed while 12 remain missing after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning and sending residents scrambling to higher ground, the disaster agency said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 16 of the fatalities occurred in the Soccsksargen Region, while three deaths were recorded in the Davao Region.
The reported deaths in Soccsksargen included 10 people in General Santos City, three in Glan, two in Tupi, and one in Malapatan, Sarangani. All reported casualties are currently undergoing official validation, the agency said.
In addition to the fatalities, at least 134 people were injured across the affected regions, while 12 people remain missing in General Santos City.
The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. with an epicenter located 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, at a depth of 33 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The institute initially issued a tsunami warning for coastal communities across several provinces in Mindanao, including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, and Sultan Kudarat, after monitoring stations recorded wave heights of up to 1.48 meters in Kiamba and 0.84 meters in Kalamansig.
The warning was lifted several hours later after sea level disturbances subsided to non-damaging levels.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered a “whole-of-government approach” to the disaster, directing the military and social welfare agencies to prioritize rescue and relief efforts.
“I have directed all relevant government agencies to act immediately,” Mr. Marcos said in a statement, urging residents to prioritize their safety over their belongings.
The government has suspended classes at all levels across affected areas in Mindanao.
Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino also ordered the suspension of work in regional labor offices, while the Office of the Ombudsman placed its Mindanao staff under a work-from-home arrangement while structural inspections of government buildings are conducted.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said that the government has sufficient resources to handle the aftermath, noting that P13.14 billion are available in Quick Response Funds (QRFs) plus P34.23 billion in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.
“In accordance with existing budgeting and accounting rules and regulations, agencies may request the replenishment of their respective QRFs once fund utilization reaches the prescribed 50% threshold,” the DBM said in a message shared with reporters.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin T. Gatchalian on Monday urged the Department of Education to assess the structural integrity of school buildings.
“Immediate steps must include assessing the structural integrity of school buildings, providing psychosocial support, and implementing appropriate localized measures to ensure learning continuity,” Mr. Gatchalian said in a press statement.
Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan separately said his office is already in coordination with disaster agencies such as the Office of the Civil Defense, NDRRMC, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The earthquake was felt as far as Leyte in the central Philippines. PHIVOLCS warned that aftershocks could persist for several days to weeks in the epicentral area.
BLACKOUTS
More than 800,000 households in Soccsksargen and Davao Region also experienced power interruptions following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, according to the Department of Energy (DoE).
In a statement on Monday, power interruptions were experienced in franchise areas served by South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative, Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Davao Light and Power Co., Cotabato Light and Power Co., and neighboring localities.
Following the earthquake, the DoE said it has immediately coordinated with the National Electrification Administration, National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, electric cooperatives, distribution utilities, and generation companies to assess the condition of power facilities and ensure a timely and coordinated response.
Damage assessments and system inspections are still ongoing as electric cooperatives and distribution utilities continue field operations to determine the extent of the impact, it said.
The department has directed distribution utilities to prioritize the restoration of electricity service to critical facilities, particularly in hospitals and evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, it has also coordinated with relevant stakeholders to monitor the readiness of backup power systems and help ensure the uninterrupted operation of these facilities while assessment and restoration activities are ongoing.
As of 2:30 p.m., power transmission services in General Santos City remained offline, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines,
“The safety of our communities and our energy workers remains our foremost priority,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said. “Our teams are on the ground working closely with electric cooperatives, critical sectors, and other energy sector stakeholders to assess conditions and restore electricity services safely, responsibly, and at the soonest possible time.” — with Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel and Sheldeen Joy Talavera
