By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has placed its Field Office 11 – Davao Region on heightened alert, as it closely monitors the effects of the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck in the waters off Manay, Davao Oriental, on Wednesday.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the earthquake occurred at 11:02 a.m. at a depth of 23 kilometers, approximately 55 kilometers north, 85 degrees east of the municipality of Manay.
The tremors prompted immediate evacuation of students and office employees to open spaces minutes after the earthquake subsided, with authorities stepping in to assess the situation and the damage caused to infrastructure.
Phivolcs reported Intensity IV in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, and Surigao del Sur, while Intensity III was felt in Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao City, and South Cotabato.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a statement, “Naka-standby na po ang ating regional offices upang agad na tumugon kung kinakailangan. Patuloy po ang monitoring ng Field Office 11 para masigurong handa ang tulong ng gobyerno para sa mga naapektuhan ng lindol.”
Asec. Dumlao moreover cited the prepositioning of a mobile command center, mobile water system, 50,633 family food packs (FFPs), mobile kitchens, and P1.3 million in funds to sustain relief efforts.
The agency is also in close coordination with concerned local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies to streamline the distribution of assistance to affected households.
Phivolcs, meanwhile, warned the public against aftershocks following the strong earthquake, advising residents to practice duck, cover, and hold. In October 2025, Manay was also rocked by a magnitude 7.4 ‘doublet’ earthquake that damaged school buildings and various infrastructures in the area.
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