For thousands of families in General Santos City, the days following the recent earthquake were filled with uncertainty. Homes were damaged, daily routines were disrupted, and many wondered how they would get through the difficult days ahead.

Amid the challenges, help arrived from the private sector.

On 13 to 15 June, the ICTSI Foundation and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, together with Solaire Cares and MORE Power, mounted a relief operation that reached nearly 3,000 earthquake-affected families across the city.

Relief teams fanned out to the barangays of Apopong, Calumpang, Labangal, Bula, Dadiangas East, Dadiangas West and Lagao, delivering essential supplies to residents beginning their recovery from the disaster. 

Assistance also were extended to employees of the Philippine Ports Authority and South Cotabato Integrated Port Services Inc. at Makar Wharf, whose operations were likewise affected by the earthquake.

The effort became possible through the combined support of the Civil Military Operations Regiment of the Philippine Army and the Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police, whose personnel helped ensure that the relief goods reached their intended beneficiaries safely and efficiently.

Each family received a 25-kilogram sack of rice, 20 liters of potable water, and a grocery bag filled with ready-to-eat food items and hygiene essentials — basic necessities that offered immediate relief while communities continued to assess the extent of the damage.

For many recipients, the assistance meant more than food and water. It served as a reassuring reminder that they were not facing the aftermath of the earthquake alone.

The partner organizations said the initiative is part of their continuing commitment to provide timely assistance to communities affected by natural disasters. By responding during the critical early stages of recovery, they hope to help families regain stability and begin rebuilding their lives as quickly as possible.