Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, June 10, visited Southern Mindanao communities devastated by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake to extend condolences to bereaved families and monitor ongoing relief efforts by her office.
Duterte traveled to heavily affected areas in Sarangani and General Santos City, where she met with local residents and pledged the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) sustained assistance throughout the recovery phase.
She noted that immediately following the June 8 disaster, the OVP’s Disaster Operations Center and its Southern Mindanao Satellite Office mobilized emergency protocols.
Among the initial responses was the deployment of Kalusugan Food Trucks to support search-and-rescue teams.
“Ang unang response po ng Disaster Operations Center ng Office of the Vice President at ng Satellite Office – Southern Mindanao Satellite Office ng Office of the Vice President ay ‘yung pagpapadala ng Kalusugan Food Trucks namin noong panahon ng search and rescue sa mga nawawala at mga biktima ng malakas na lindol,” Duterte said.
The specialized food trucks supplied hot meals to rescue personnel, emergency responders, and laborers clearing collapsed infrastructure.
Alongside supporting frontline workers, the OVP distributed rice food bags to grieving families, while sending food packs and non-food relief goods to displaced residents.
Prior to her site visits in Sarangani and General Santos, the Vice President stoped in Cotabato City for events organized by the OVP’s Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Satellite Office. There, she spearheaded the distribution of rice food bags and inaugurated the EXTRA+Ordinary OVP Exhibit at a local school.
Addressing the public on disaster safety, Duterte underscored the critical need for earthquake preparedness, reminding citizens that seismic events strike without warning.
“Hindi natin alam na mangyayari ang lindol, wala siyang warning kaya ang pinakamabisa na paghahanda [at] panlaban na magawa natin ay ‘yung paghahanda natin kung ano ‘yung dapat nating gawin kung andyan na ‘yung lindol para hindi tayo magpa-panic at laging nasa isip natin kung ano ‘yung mga dapat nating gawin kung andyan na ‘yung ground shaking,” she said.
The powerful June 8 earthquake caused multiple casualties, injuries, and widespread displacement across Mindanao.
Government agencies, local government units, and humanitarian organizations remain on the ground to conduct relief and rehabilitation operations.