UMVA has learned that the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the southern Philippines earlier this week has claimed the lives of at least 47 people, with dozens more still unaccounted for.
The disaster has left a trail of destruction, with 31 people still missing and 688 others injured, according to the latest situational report. The quake, which occurred on Monday near Maasim, Sarangani, has ravaged the Soccsksargen Region, where 35 people lost their lives, and the Davao Region, where 12 fatalities were recorded.
Rescue teams are working tirelessly to search for survivors, but officials warn that the casualty figures are still subject to ongoing validation. The earthquake, which struck at a depth of 33 kilometers, triggered at least 37 earthquake-induced landslides and prompted a temporary tsunami warning by state seismologists.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology has reported over 3,000 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 1.2 to 6.4, with 841 plotted and 64 felt. The quake has affected approximately 346,449 people across 11 provinces, displacing over 45,000 residents who are taking shelter in 32 evacuation centers or staying with relatives.
The damage to property is extensive, with 12,641 houses damaged, of which 2,289 were destroyed. The Office of the Civil Defense estimates that the infrastructure damage caused by the powerful earthquake was around P666.5 million.
In response to the disaster, a state of calamity has been declared in eight cities and municipalities to expedite relief efforts. The government has provided approximately P26.3 million in assistance, including the distribution of over 20,000 family food packs to the hardest-hit regions.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the House of Representatives has pledged to shoulder the medical expenses of all individuals injured in the recent Mindanao quake and push for funding support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure in the affected areas.
The House Speaker has led a delegation of congressmen to General Santos City and Sarangani Province to assess the damage caused by the earthquake and determine immediate and long-term responses for the affected communities. The House has vowed to bear the cost of treating the injured in public and private hospitals and provide additional assistance for the recovery of the affected areas.
The 2027 national budget will include the necessary funds for the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges, hospitals, and airports. The Senate has identified around P180 billion in funding for the reconstruction and conduct of relief efforts in Mindanao.
