DAVAO CITY – The provincial government of Sarangani is crafting a measure to hasten rehabilitation efforts in
communities hit by the June 8 earthquake.
GOV. Rogelio Pacquiao leads a recent PDRRMC meeting. (Sarangani PIO)
Gov. Rogelio Pacquiao said the provincial government is preparing a comprehensive package of interventions in the recovery phase.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Rene Punzalan endorsed before the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) a package of interventions for inclusion in the Supplemental Annual Investment Program (SAIP) No. 3 for CY 2026 and the Annual Investment Program (AIP) 2027.
The package includes the provision of humanitarian assistance to displaced families, cash-for-work program, construction of temporary learning spaces for schools, emergency shelter assistance for families whose homes were destroyed, and the formulation of the province’s comprehensive Earthquake Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan.
The PDRRMO said 47 were killed, three persons missing, and 262 injured from the earthquake. The tremor also affected 175,181 families, with 2,513 families still in evacuation centers.
The earthquake damaged 41,682 houses, of which 33,924 were partially damaged, and 7,758 were totally destroyed.
PDRRMO also reported damage to provincial roads reaching 3,900-linear meters.
Among the most heavily-affected towns in the province were Glan and Malapatan.
Pacquiao emphasized that rehabilitation efforts require a whole-of-government approach as well as a sustained collaboration among national agencies, local government units, development partners, and other stakeholders.
“We will rebuild what was lost, but we will build a stronger Sarangani,” the governor said.
Pacquiao said that the province's long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts should be strategic, well-coordinated, and responsive to the needs of affected communities.
The governor revealed that he has approved the reprogramming of portions of the unexpended Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) for 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 to accelerate early recovery interventions for earthquake-affected families and communities.
The reprogramming of the fund will be utilized to sustain the support for learners through the Department of Education and assist communities affected by a recent typhoon.