The Office of the Civil Defense-Davao (OCD-11) has lauded the preparedness and swift response of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs) in the region and the cooperation of the public after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued a tsunami advisory following the magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Russia on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

One of the LDRRMOs that acted quickly was the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Tagum in Davao del Norte.

Nearly 400 families were evacuated after the local government implemented a preemptive evacuation in five coastal barangays.

“Mikabat sa 390 ka pamilya ang atoang na evacuate ug naa sa 1065 individuals human niini pag-lift sa tsunami alert ato pong gisiguro nga han-ay pud sila mapauli sailang mga panimalay,” Tagum City Information Office, Don Sy, said.

Several local government units across the region also suspended classes as a precautionary measure and other agencies concerned responded promptly to the situation.

PHIVOLCS cancelled the tsunami alert around 4:40 p.m. on the same day.

“I think sa preparedness sa response okay na ang Region 11 meaning ang mga tao mutuo, maminaw sa radyo sa TV sa advisory sa government they are doing it religiously and ang atoang partners on the ground barangay responders ang atoang mga Bureau of Fire, police, ang army, they immediately cooperate, they know what to do,” OCD-11 Director, Ednar Dayanghirang, said.

However, Dayanghirang said there is still a need to further strengthen tsunami preparedness. He added it would be better to conduct a region-wide tsunami drill in coordination with PHIVOLCS to help prevent the loss of lives.

“We have to admit that in terms of tsunami, naa pa tay gap o kakulangon. Ang system man gud karon every year duha tulo ra ka communities ingon ko kanus-a pata mahuman we have to do it as a region, regional scenario sa the big one in Davao Region similar sa the big one in Metro Manila,” Dayanghirang said.