President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited General Santos City on Wednesday to personally assess the destruction caused by a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao earlier this week, promising full government support for recovery efforts.
During the visit, the President inspected heavily damaged facilities, including St. Elizabeth Hospital, Romana C. Acharon Central Elementary School, and General Santos National High School, to monitor ongoing emergency response and rehabilitation work.
While at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Marcos ordered state agencies to accelerate safety evaluations of medical facilities to guarantee the safety of both patients and healthcare workers.
According to the Presidential Communications Office:
“the President underscored the need to immediately evaluate damaged medical facilities to facilitate the safe return of patients and the uninterrupted delivery of medical services.”
The President also visited damaged school campuses, emphasizing the urgency of rebuilding safe learning spaces so students and educators can resume classes without delay.
To jumpstart local recovery, Marcos announced the release of ₱100 million for General Santos City via the Local Government Support Fund, which will finance the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure. Furthermore, he ordered agencies to distribute ₱50,000 in financial assistance to the families of those who died in the disaster.
Marcos later observed the distribution of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program at the General Santos City Oval Plaza, following his directive for seamless relief coordination across the region.
The earthquake’s official death toll has climbed to 45 as validation and damage assessments continue. Government teams remain on the ground delivering food packs, medical aid, and engineering support.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways is inspecting damaged roads, bridges, and public buildings.
Providing an update on utility restoration, Marcos noted that:
“about 85% of Sarangani province’s power supply had already been restored”
Repairs and rehabilitation efforts are still underway across the affected provinces.