Nearly two weeks after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao on June 8, residents in Sarangani and General Santos City face ongoing challenges with damaged schools, collapsed homes, and blocked access to farms and fishing areas.
The June 8 quake, with its epicenter offshore southwest of Maasim, has left 77 people dead, 1,339 injured, and 31 missing as of June 21. Soccsksargen recorded 56 deaths and 1,259 injuries, along with P1.2 billion in infrastructure damage, 67,119 damaged houses, and over 310,000 families affected.
Education has been halted for more than 140,000 learners, with over 10,000 classrooms damaged. Face-to-face classes in Sarangani remain suspended until June 30, while General Santos City schools shift to asynchronous and blended learning.
Farmers and fisherfolk cannot reach their croplands or the sea due to landslides and coastal uplift of up to two meters. Local governments are building evacuation centers and distributing aid, with P362 million released nationally so far. Officials in Glan and General Santos City report running out of quick response funds and request construction materials and mental health support.
