The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) is currently conducting ground validation of a reported coastal uplift along the shores of Glan, Sarangani Province, following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the province on 8 June 2026.
The phenomenon was first reported after the earthquake.
The Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS) Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) initially received reports on 10 June from concerned residents of Glan, who claimed that sea levels remained low and had not returned to normal since the earthquake.
Despite damaged road conditions, a team from CENRO Glan, accompanied by PAMO Protected Area Rangers, began a coastal survey in Glan and found that long stretches of shoreline, coral reefs, and seagrass beds had been exposed, particularly in Pangyan Marine Sanctuary in Barangay Pangyan, Glan, Sarangani Province.
The exposed corals and seagrass beds had begun to die, along with marine organisms inhabiting the area, including reef fish, eels, clams, and shellfish. Nearby residents expressed concern that the stench from the decaying marine life could pose health risks.
Meanwhile, on 11 June, an aerial survey and ground validation conducted by DOST-PHIVOLCS and DENR-MGB Region XII confirmed that coastal uplift in Barangay Pangyan had raised the seabed by two meters and extended the shoreline by approximately 200 meters, exposing wide stretches of coral reefs and seagrass beds.
At present, the SBPS-PAMO has mobilized all its Protected Area Rangers to document other instances of coastal uplift and habitat damage within Sarangani Bay.
The DENR Region XII will also create a composite team with MGB Region XII and partner local government units to conduct a scientific study of the Glan coastal uplift on Tuesday, 16 June.
Those who wish to report other incidents of coastal uplift may contact the SBPS-PAMO hotline at 0909-618-9917 (Smart) or 0995-305-0306 (Globe).