Responding to the Mindanao Earthquake: Reaching Communities in Malita
Two months have passed since a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck offshore near Mindanao, the Philippines, on June 8, 2026. While the immediate emergency has subsided, many affected communities continue to face damaged homes, disrupted services, and difficult conditions for recovery.
Following the earthquake, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) dispatched its staff on the ground to join its long-standing local partner, Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (BMFI), to assess the situation and identify communities where assistance was most urgently needed.
Based on the initial assessments, Malita in Davao Occidental was selected as a primary area of intervention. The municipality, home to more than 118,000 people across 30 villages, serves as an important administrative, commercial, educational, and transportation hub for the surrounding communities.
According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 1,788 houses in Malita were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake. Many families have since returned to their homes despite the damage and the risks posed by continuing aftershocks.
Working together with BMFI, the local government, community leaders, and residents, PBV supported emergency assistance in five villages: Bolila, Fishing Village, Little Baguio, Poblacion, and Tingolo.
The response has so far reached at least 500 households, directly benefiting approximately 3,500 people.
Families received essential supplies to help them cope with the immediate impact of the disaster, including:
- Hygiene kits for 500 households
- Jerry cans for 500 households
- Tarpaulins for 500 households to provide temporary protection for damaged homes
- Two water tanks serving approximately 400 households
- Tarpaulins and support for a temporary learning space used by approximately 600 students
In one coastal community in Bucana, Barangay Poblacion, PBV and BMFI found homes damaged or destroyed, with cracks visible across floors and the ground. Residents also reported water and fine sand surging from beneath the earth during the earthquake.
The community’s location between a river and the sea creates additional risks, including flooding and large waves. These conditions make recovery particularly challenging for families whose homes and livelihoods have already been affected.
During the emergency response, PBV and BMFI worked closely with local authorities and community leaders to ensure that assistance reflected the needs identified on the ground.
At an affected school in a fishing community, earthquake damage made the existing school buildings unsafe for use. As preparations were made for temporary outdoor classrooms and eventual reconstruction, PBV provided tarpaulins and hygiene supplies to help students continue their education in safer conditions.
The response demonstrated the importance of working with local partners who understand the communities and can identify needs that may not be immediately visible from outside.
PBV will continue working with BMFI and local partners to support affected communities as they move from emergency response toward recovery and longer-term resilience.
