NDRRMC raises Red Alert, activates response clusters after Davao Oriental earthquakes

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has raised the alert status of its Operations Center to red, and activated response clusters to assign lead agencies to manage response operations.

In a statement released Sunday, the NDRRMC said the response clusters were activated at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, in response to the major earthquakes in Manay, Davao Oriental.

The NDRRMC is administered by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). The raising of red alert status tasks the OCD to take charge of logistics and early recovery, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for food and non-food items, camp coordination and management, and internally displaced persons protection.

"Raising the status to the highest alert level required duty officers from the AFP, the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), as well as technical personnel from the DILG, DSWD, DPWH, and DOH to render duty at the physical operations center in Camp Aguinaldo. Other concerned agencies joined the emergency operations via a virtual platform," the OCD said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is tasked to lead search, rescue, and retrieval operations, the Department of Health (DOH) on health concerns, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on law and order, and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on crisis communications.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is ordered to lead in emergency telecommunications, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on debris cleaning and civil works, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on shelter.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is on standby for Philippine international humanitarian assistance, and the OCD for early recovery.

This comes as the NDRRM Operations Center also raised its alert status to red, requiring duty officers from the AFP, PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to render duty at the physical operations in Camp Aguinaldo.

Also mandated are technical personnel from the DILG, the DSWD, the DPWH, and DOH.

“I have directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, the Armed Forces, the Philippine Coast Guard, and all concerned agencies to immediately carry out evacuations in coastal areas, activate emergency communication lines, and coordinate closely with local governments,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was quoted as saying.

Review of contingency plans

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has also ordered the enhancement of earthquake preparedness across the country, and the review of local contingency plans following the recent earthquakes that hit Cebu and Davao.

According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Teodoro called for the review of local contingency plans to ensure that all disaster protocols of local government units (LGUs) within their areas of responsibility (AOR) are validated and updated.

They were also urged to hold wide-scale earthquake drills, specifically in public areas including schools, government offices, and other facilities to strengthen safety readiness.

“Sa mga areas na hindi nalindol (o naapektuhan ng lindol), please tell the LGUs na mag-review o mag-practice ng earthquake drill protocols,” Teodoro was quoted as saying.

(For areas that were not hit (or affected) by the earthquake, please tell the LGUs to review or practice their earthquake drill protocols.)

This comes as a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck offshore Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday morning, October 10, followed by the magnitude 6.8 offshore earthquake in the evening.

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake also jolted Pugo, La Union on October 9, 2025, while a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Cagwait, Surigao del Sur late October 11, Saturday night.

Before these, Bogo, Cebu was hit by the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the area on October 1, with a depth of 5 kilometers and tectonic in origin.

Latest data from the OCD shows that the earthquakes have affected 125,283 families or 491,258 individuals in the Davao Region and Caraga, with eight reported deaths and 395 injuries as of October 12, 2025. Total estimated damages were pegged at P100 million.

Some areas in Mindanao have suspended classes for Monday, October 13, due to ongoing assessment after the earthquakes. — BM, GMA Integrated News