Vice President Sara Duterte has personally led relief operations in Mindanao, visiting injured survivors in hospitals across Sarangani Province and General Santos City following a powerful earthquake.
In a social media post on Monday, June 15, Duterte shared that she visited patients at the Sarangani Provincial Hospital, General Santos Doctors Hospital, and St. Elizabeth Hospital last week, urging them to stay resilient.
“Hinikayat natin sila na patuloy na magpakatatag at tutukan ang kanilang pagpapagaling,” Duterte stated.
The Vice President also expressed her gratitude to the medical personnel managing the sudden influx of patients during the emergency.
“Ipinaabot din natin ang ating pasasalamat sa lahat ng medical frontliners para sa kanilang ‘di-matatawaran na serbisyo, lalo na sa gitna ng kalamidad,” she added.
During a media interview in Davao City on June 12, Duterte outlined the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) immediate mobilization strategy to aid emergency teams, displaced families, and survivors.
“Ang Office of the Vice President, meron tayong response sa Region 12, particularly sa province ng Sarangani at ng siyudad ng General Santos,” she explained.
The OVP initial deployment sent the agency’s “Kalusugan Truck” to deliver immediate nutrition to individuals operating at the sites of collapsed structures.
“Ang unang pumunta doon ay ‘yung Kalusugan Truck ng Office of the Vice President. Nag-deliver sila ng mga hot meals para sa mga first responders at sa mga survivors mula sa mga nag-collapse na buildings,” Duterte added.
Following the initial food trucks, the OVP Southern Mindanao Satellite Office expanded operations by distributing basic relief supplies, including rice boxes. Duterte emphasized that her physical presence was vital to comfort grieving families and directly evaluate the status of the injured.
“Ang sumunod na naman na pumunta ay ako. Ang trabaho ko from the Office of the Vice President ay ang pakikiramay sa pamilya ng mga namatay dahil sa lindol at pagbisita sa mga pasyente na nasaktan o na-injure dahil sa lindol. At pinaabot namin yung assistance namin sa mga pamilya at pasyente,” she said.
The OVP Disaster Operations Center continues to operate a local warehouse to package and dispatch food packs. Teams are currently prioritizing geographically isolated communities cut off by severe earthquake damage.
As recovery efforts proceed, the Vice President encouraged the nation to remain unified and prayerful.