KORONADAL CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 said Friday it has enough emergency relief supplies amid the latest series of earthquakes that struck large parts of Mindanao in the last 24 hours.

The agency made the assurance after a strong 5.5 magnitude tremor hit the town of Sarangani in Davao Oriental around 3:13 am today. On Thursday morning, a 4.3-magnitude tectonic earthquake also struck 14 kilometers southwest of Makilala, Cotabato, a town worst  affected by last year’s earthquakes.

The quake was felt Intensity V – Kidapawan City; Tulunan, Cotabato; Intensity III – Bansalan and Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur based on the report of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Cezario Joel Espejo, DSWD-12 regional director, assured the public relief supplies are ready if quake-affected local government units (LGUs) will request for augmentation.

At the same time, Dir. Espejo already instructed field social workers to conduct ground assessment following the earthquakes. 

“We have enough food and non-food supplies of relief for affected residents of North Cotabato,” Dir. Espejo said. 

“We have enough food and non-food supplies of relief for affected residents of North Cotabato,” Dir. Espejo said.  

Edmund Corder, regional logistics chief, said more than 32,000 family food packs stored in the agency’s warehouse located in New Iloilo,  Tantangan, South Cotabato.  (JBM / DSWD)