Two strong earthquakes hit the provinces of Mindanao in June. First was the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on June 8 with its epicenter in offshore Sarangani, and second was the magnitude 6.6 earthquake on June 26 with its epicenter in offshore Davao Occidental. This was followed by nearly 10,000 aftershocks. In the face of this, the livelihood of the masses affected by the earthquake continues to collapse, not only because of the disaster, but as a result of Marcos regime’s incompetence.

According to the latest record of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on July 1, the confirmed death toll during the earthquake has reached 88. There are still 24 missing while 1,316 were recorded injured. Meanwhile, atleast 319,275 families or 1.68 million people in 627 barangays were affected by the earthquake. Around 18,360 houses completely collapsed while 94,919 were partially damaged. Many roads and public infrastructure were also destroyed.

Despite this, the Marcos regime and local governments are moving at a snail’s pace to meaningfully address the impact of the earthquake. The government is focused only on the mere distribution of one-time and limited aid, instead of comprehensive measures and policies.

Aid fails to arrive

Many towns in Mindanao have already declared a “state of calamity” to immediately release funds for disaster response. Despite this, many farming communities do not receive aid. In an interview by Ang Bayan with some farmers in the affected provinces, they shared that they have not received help or compensation from the government.

In one community, the farmers’ rice crops, which were supposed to be their source of consumption for the whole year, were toppled by the earthquake. In some areas, farmers cannot deliver and sell abaca products due to destroyed roads and large boulders blocking the way as a result of landslides.

Communities are exerting their own efforts to repair their roads so that vehicles can pass through. In some cases, they opted to walk to the town center from the sitios just to make a living. In addition, they suffered from damaged homes and properties.

Farmers were further dismayed by circulating news about local officials pocketing the aid that was supposed to be distributed to them. In a Sarangani town, the mayor made it appear that the rice intended for residents were distributed to a neighboring town, but it was discovered that the local government was merely hoarding and hiding them.

For the farmers, the lack of or sluggish social services from the government is nothing new. They even shared that even before the earthquake, their roads were already badly damaged.

Strengthening the united voice The revolutionary forces in the Far South of Mindanao, which includes Sarangani, are making every effort to unite and strengthen the united voice of farmers and residents affected by the earthquake. They are raising awareness among the peasant masses about their rights to unite and mobilize them to hold the local government and the Marcos regime accountable.

As a result, several sitio leaders found the courage to go to the barangay center to report the damage in their communities. Along with this, they demanded compensation and support. Revolutionary forces are also urging residents to form organizations to serve as their strength to assert their demands.

In some areas, Red fighters of the New People’s Army directly helped the masses in clearing large boulders from the roads after the earthquake. Through these actions, the people’s army is able to demonstrate that it is a reliable army of the toiling masses.

Assisting and responding to the people affected or victimized by calamities is part of the Party’s Program for a People’s Democratic Revolution. Together with units of the people’s army and the local people’s government, the revolutionary movement carries out various forms of rescue, relief, and mobilization of disaster victims.