Medical facilities in Davao Oriental are struggling to cope in the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes, with the provincial hospital in Manay rendered non-operational and hospitals in Mati overwhelmed by the influx of patients, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported on Saturday.

In a video message, OCD Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito “Raffy” Alejandro IV said various government agencies have mobilized in full force following the “doublet earthquakes,” which caused widespread damage, displaced thousands, and left at least eight people dead.

According to Alejandro, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), chaired by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., convened to coordinate the inter-agency response in the province.

Alejandro said the municipality of Manay in Davao Oriental has been identified as the most severely affected area, with the highest number of impacted residents.

The Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Manay was reported to be “totally damaged” and is currently non-operational.

Hospitals in Mati, the provincial capital, have been overwhelmed, forcing medical personnel to accommodate patients in outdoor facilities.

“We learned that the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Manay is non-operational, and the hospitals in Mati and nearby areas are overwhelmed. We need to establish alternative health facilities or temporary medical tents or facilities,” Alejandro said.

Nearby Pantukan in Davao de Oro has also reported numerous landslides, complicating access and rescue efforts.

As of 2 p.m. Saturday, authorities have confirmed eight fatalities: three from Davao Oriental, four from Davao de Oro, and one from Davao City.

These figures are still undergoing validation, according to Alejandro.

A total of 276 barangays across Regions XI (Davao Region) and Caraga have been affected, impacting approximately 122,735 families, or close to 478,000 individuals. Of this total, 267,000 individuals are in Region XI, and 210,272 are in Caraga.

Eighteen evacuation centers are currently operational, sheltering 2,526 families, or around 11,000 individuals. These are spread across Davao Oriental (10 centers), Davao de Oro (6), and Surigao del Sur.

Further, Alejandro stressed the urgent need to re-establish health services in the region.

The Department of Health (DOH) is leading efforts to deploy temporary medical tents and assess hospital damage.

“We need to expedite the assessment and repair of damaged hospitals. This needs to be done. We also need to expedite assessment and do immediate repairs of key hospitals in Manay and Mati,” Alejandro added.

Relief efforts, infrastructure rehabilitation underway

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released P3.9 million worth of assistance, including 1,728 family food packs, 606 ready-to-eat meals, and nearly 1,000 other relief items.

“We need to fast-track the provision and replenishment of relief supplies such as food and non-food items, tents, and shelter repair kits. Of course, we have already mobilized the national stockpile or logistic support here in Metro Manila,” Alejandro reported.

DSWD’s stockpile includes nearly 2 million family food packs, with P660 million in standby funds.

Alejandro said power and telecommunications remain intermittent in affected areas. Crews are working to restore services, while the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been deployed to clear debris and reopen blocked roads.

“We need to accelerate full restoration and preposition or activate response crews to repair our communication lines and power lines,” he added.

Alejandro further noted that structural assessments are ongoing for bridges and other critical infrastructure.

“We have already mobilized DPWH to ensure that clearing and temporary restoration of critical access routes are made immediately,” he said.

“Then, of course, conduct a review of the structural integrity of other critical infrastructures, including bridges,” he added.

Affected residents

Alejandro reported that the total affected barangays have reached 276, covering around 122,735 affected families, or close to 478,000 individuals.

“There are a lot of people affected in Region XI. There are 267,000 persons affected,” he said.

In the Caraga region, 210,272 individuals have been affected by the earthquake.

“We have 18 evacuation centers open now. This is as of 2 p.m. We have 2,526 families living inside evacuation centers,” Alejandro noted. “The total number of persons inside ECs has reached 11,000. We have assistance provided by the DSWD.”

Meanwhile, Alejandro said OCD Administrator Joseph Cabreros and several Cabinet members are currently in Davao Oriental overseeing operations.

“So far, we have received reports from Mati and Manay. Davao Oriental is the most affected area,” he noted.

Alejandro urged residents to remain vigilant due to continued aftershocks and to follow official safety advisories.

“Our priority right now is your safety, so we urge you to cooperate and follow instructions because there are still aftershocks,” he said.

“Rest assured that all government agencies are on the ground, making sure that the assessment will be done immediately and swiftly, and assistance will be provided or is being provided as we speak.”

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate implementation of response and relief efforts in all affected areas.

Further updates are expected as damage assessments continue across the affected provinces.