How to help earthquake-hit communities in Sarangani

ALABEL, Sarangani – A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province on Monday morning, June 8.

Felt by the larger Mindanao island, the quake has an offshore epicenter 32 kilometers from Maasim town in Sarangani Province. As of Tuesday morning, June 9, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported at least 37 fatalities. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has also recorded more than 1,000 aftershocks since the main quake, with over 20 of them felt by residents as of writing. 

In Sarangani province, the towns of Glan and Malapatan bore some of the heaviest damage. Several roads and bridges have become impassable, disrupting transportation and relief operations. Residents continue to struggle as water supply, electricity, and internet services remain unavailable.

As relief operations continue, several organizations and community groups in and out of Sarangani have launched donation drives to support affected families.

Below are vetted initiatives accepting donations and relief goods.

Kidlikasan

Kidlikasan has launched “DO-nation for Malapatan,” a donation drive aimed at providing immediate assistance to residents of Barangay Lun Masla in Malapatan, Sarangani.

The organization is accepting in-kind donations, including rice and other non-perishable food items, drinking water, hygiene essentials, basic medicines, temporary shelter materials, and clothing.

For donations and volunteer opportunities, interested individuals may contact the organization through its Facebook page.

MindKada Philippines

MindKada Philippines has launched a Bayanihan Drive to support families and communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 Sarangani quake. The organization is accepting both monetary and in-kind donations, with relief efforts focused on providing food, drinking water, hygiene supplies, basic medicines, and other emergency essentials identified as urgent needs in affected areas.

In addition to material assistance, MindKada Philippines will deploy volunteers trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA) to provide emotional support and psychosocial assistance to individuals experiencing distress in the aftermath of the disaster.

Monetary donations may be sent through the organization’s posted donation channels, while arrangements for in-kind donations and pick-ups can be coordinated through MindKada Philippines’ official social media page.

Mindanao State University (MSU) GenSan Supreme Student Council

The Supreme Student Council of Mindanao State University–General Santos has launched the “Bangon, Mindanao” donation drive for communities affected by the Sarangani quake.

The council is accepting monetary donations through its designated bank and e-wallet accounts, while in-kind donations may be dropped off at the SSC Office inside the MSU-Gensan campus. The initiative aims to provide relief and assistance to displaced families and other affected residents across Mindanao.

For donations and inquiries, people may contact them through their Facebook page. 

Municipal Junior Officials of Alabel

The Municipal Junior Officials of Alabel have launched a donation drive to support families affected by the earthquake, particularly in the hard-hit municipalities of Glan and Malapatan.

The group is accepting both in-kind and monetary donations, including drinking water, food and non-food essentials, blankets, mats and bedding, hygiene and sanitation kits, water containers, basic medicines and first aid supplies, clothing, and other necessities.

The organization reminded donors to use only its officially posted GCash account for monetary contributions and to coordinate through its designated contact persons for inquiries and donation arrangements at +63 951 657 3877 or +63 991 697 8550. 

Philippine Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross has launched a fundraising campaign to support communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao. Donations will help fund emergency relief operations, including medical assistance, food and clean water distribution, shelter support for displaced families, and hygiene kits for survivors as response efforts continue in affected areas. For donations, people may reach them via their official social media pages.

Provincial Youth Development Office – Sarangani Province

The Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO) of Sarangani is seeking partners for a coordinated donation drive campaign to assist communities affected by the recent earthquake. The office has called on youth-led and youth-serving organizations, both within and outside the province, to join the relief effort and help mobilize resources for affected residents.

As relief operations continue, the province has identified the following priority needs for affected communities:

• Drinking water
• Instant food items
• Tents, tarpaulins, and sleeping mats
• Rice
• Hygiene kits
• Eating and cooking utensils

The PYDO encouraged individuals and organizations willing to help to coordinate with the office as it works to streamline relief efforts and ensure aid reaches communities most affected by the disaster. For inquiries, people may contact them at +63 970 112 3259. 

Sangguniang Kabataan of Poblacion, Alabel 

The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Poblacion, Alabel has launched a community disaster response initiative in partnership with the Tagum City Youth and Sports Development Office, the Local Youth Development Office, fellow SK officials, and several youth organizations across Sarangani province and the Davao Region.

The group is accepting donations of the following relief items:

• Bottled drinking water
• Rice and ready-to-eat food
• Canned goods and easy-to-cook food items
• Hygiene kits
• Baby and child care essentials
• Tents, sleeping mats, and blankets
• Medicines and other emergency supplies

Donations may be dropped off at Kasfala Hall within the Barangay Hall compound, where SK officials and volunteers of Barangay Poblacion will receive and process contributions.

SK Poblacion, Glan, Sarangani

As damaged roads continue to hamper access to some communities in Glan, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Poblacion Glan is accepting donations for families affected by the earthquake.

The youth council is seeking essential relief items, including drinking water, ready-to-eat food and canned goods, rice, medicines and first aid supplies, hygiene kits, baby essentials, blankets, mats, bedsheets, tents, and tarpaulins for temporary shelter.

For donations and inquiries, donors may contact the SK Federation through +63 917 169 6429 or +63 936 318 1524.

Save the Children Philippines

Save the Children Philippines is appealing for donations to support children and families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani province on the first day of classes.

Donations will help provide emergency supplies, safe spaces for children, hygiene essentials, psychosocial support, and household necessities for displaced families in the hardest-hit communities. The organization said immediate assistance is critical as affected children and their families continue to face heightened risks and urgent humanitarian needs. For more information, people may visit their social media pages. 

Youth Affairs and Development Office – Malapatan

In Malapatan, many residents have chosen to stay in open areas amid fears of aftershocks following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Sarangani on Monday, June 8.

To support affected communities, the Youth Affairs and Development Office (YADO) of Malapatan has launched a donation drive accepting both monetary and in-kind contributions. The office is urgently seeking temporary shelter materials, food packs, clothing, and other essential supplies for displaced residents.

For inquiries, you may contact their Local Youth Development Officer through their phone number: +63 927 556 6127. 

Do you know of any other initiatives to help communities affected by the earthquake in Mindanao? Send an email to Rappler’s civic engagement arm at [email protected]. –Rappler.com

Rey Mark Paran is a senior statistics student at the University of the Philippines Visayas. An alumnus of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2025, he is also the managing editor of Pagbutlak.