At least four national roads remain closed while thousands of homes were damaged following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported in a press briefing on Monday, June 9.
Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said that road clearing and restoration efforts are ongoing, led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“As of this morning, meron pong apat lang na national roads that are close to traffic… Isa po dito ay sa Davao Occidental at tatlo sa South Cotabato,” Alejandro said.
He added that DPWH has deployed heavy equipment to speed up operations, with 821 pieces of equipment, of which 56 are actively engaged in road clearing activities.
Damage to national highways has so far been estimated at around ₱232 million, although officials said assessments are still ongoing.
Alejandro said government response efforts are currently focused on three key priorities: search, rescue, and retrieval operations; road clearing; and addressing the housing needs of affected residents.
On housing damage, he reported that more than 2,505 houses have been affected, including 460 totally damaged and 2,045 partially damaged homes.
“Still ongoing yung ating damage assessment… may mga aftershocks pa po na nagaganap,” he said, noting that many residents remain unwilling to return to their homes due to continuing tremors.
Authorities said they are preparing housing materials, repair kits, and temporary shelter assistance for displaced families as relief and rehabilitation efforts continue in quake-affected areas.
