General Santos City — A massive coordinated rescue and relief operation is underway in General Santos City after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck offshore Sarangani on Monday, June 8, with soldiers, police, firefighters, coast guard personnel, and civilian volunteers working side by side to search for survivors and clear debris from damaged structures across multiple barangays.
As of Tuesday morning, June 9, the Office of Civil Defense reported 37 fatalities across Mindanao, with 12 deaths recorded in General Santos City alone. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed 150 responders and search-and-rescue dogs to the city, focusing on a collapsed commercial building in Barangay Calumpang where survivors may still be trapped.
Multi-Agency Response on the Ground
Army medics from the 10th and 6th Infantry Divisions have been deployed alongside personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection 12 and the Police Regional Office 12. The Philippine Red Cross has mobilized its RC143 volunteers and dispatched ambulances, food trucks, water tankers, and emergency response vehicles to affected areas in SOCCSKSARGEN.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has activated Quick Response Teams, with social workers ready for deployment and mobile command centers and mobile kitchens on standby. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian personally arrived in General Santos City on Monday afternoon to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts.
Barangays Hit Hard
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that 142 residents across Barangays Calumpang, Tambler, Lagao, Tinagacan, Apopong, Bula, Fatima, San Isidro, and Labangal sustained injuries from debris and collapsing structures. A state of calamity has been declared, and the affected population already exceeds 15% of the city’s total, triggering access to quick response funds.
Search and rescue teams are prioritizing the Savemore Calumpang and KCC Mall/Veranza Mall areas, where collapsed structures claimed multiple lives. The Philippine Coast Guard also rescued seven individuals who were reported missing at sea, though one was declared dead on arrival.
Community Spirit Amid Crisis
The Philippine Red Cross has set up an emergency fund campaign and is preparing to expand emergency medical services, relief distributions, safe water provision, and psychosocial support in affected communities.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and its Authorized Agent Corporations have moved quickly on the ground to support affected families and coordinate relief efforts with local partners. Power was restored in parts of the city by Monday evening, and roads and bridges remain passable for rescue vehicles.
As General Santos City begins the long road to recovery, the spirit of bayanihan among its residents and the swift coordination between government agencies, military units, and volunteer organizations stand as a testament to the resilience of the community.
Show your support for General Santos City’s brave responders and volunteers. Order your custom shirts and uniforms for barangay relief operations, emergency response teams, and community organizations at phshirt.com.