Police cordon off the area outside a collapsed Jollibee restaurant after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in General Santos City. (AFP pic)
MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday ordered the immediate mobilisation of government agencies following a strong earthquake off the coast of Sarangani that triggered tsunami warnings in several coastal provinces in Mindanao, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
In a statement, Marcos said the office of civil defence and the national disaster risk reduction and management council are now coordinating response and monitoring operations in affected areas.
The president directed the department of social welfare and development to pre-position relief supplies and ensure evacuation centres are ready and operational for residents who may be displaced.
He also ordered the department of public works and highways to stand by for damage assessment and the clearing of roads, bridges, and other critical routes needed for rescue and relief efforts.
Marcos likewise suspended classes at all levels in affected areas across Mindanao until further notice, saying the safety of students remains a priority.
“The safety of our children comes first,” the president said, adding that the department of education would coordinate with local government units on the implementation of the suspension.
Marcos urged residents in provinces under tsunami warnings to immediately move to higher ground and follow local authorities’ directives.
“To our kababayans (countrymen) in the affected provinces, please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” he said.
The president assured the public that the national government is closely coordinating with local chief executives and regional offices as the situation develops.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake jolted Sarangani province at 7.37am Monday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake struck 32km. west of Maasim town. It was 33km deep.
