Several Cabinet officials inspected heavily damaged areas in Davao Oriental following the strong twin earthquakes that hit the province on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Leo Magno checked first the Manay District Hospital in Manay town, the epicenter of the ‘doublet’ magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes.

Dizon said the hospital is no longer safe for use as several portions of the building and even the emergency room have developed large cracks.

Patients were relocated temporarily to the vacant area beside the hospital, where makeshift wards have been set up.

Dizon said there is a need for a safer and more suitable relocation site for the patients.

“Wala na, all the buildings. Kailangan to makeshifts, medical tents ang problema ang sikip eh we need an alternative site,” Dizon said.

Gatchalian confirmed that the DSWD has provided tents for hospital use.

Dizon added that clearing operations are ongoing, especially along local roads affected by landslides and cracks.

“May malaking damage sa mga local roads ang iniutos ng pangulo lahat ng assets ng DPWH ipinasa na namin sa local government unit yung mga nag-clear kahapon nasa kamay na ng local government units yon kay mayor at governor para wala ng bureaucracy,” Dizon added.

DPWH is set to repair damaged infrastructures in the coming weeks once the assessment is finished.

“We are going to start the repair as fast as possible maybe in the coming weeks mag-start na tayo pero kailangan pang i-assess kung salvagable or kailangan pang gigibain ang lahat,” Dizon said.

Meanwhile, tent cities will be established in Tarragona and Manay towns to house displaced families.

DSWD is also awaiting the final list of affected households for the immediate release of financial assistance.

“Importante na ang financial assistance magsimula agad para maka-rebuild sila lalong lalo na sa mga may partially-damaged na tahanan yung konting kumpuni lang makakabalik na kaagad,” Gatchalian said.

Power supply has been restored, but water supply remains disrupted in Barangay Central after pipelines were damaged by the shifting of the Mahan-ob Bridge.

“Mahina talaga ang supply ng tubig maam kasi nasura ang tubo kaya nag iigib na lang sa ganitong pamamaraan,” a resident said.

“Kanina pinasa ko yong telepono kay mayor kausap niya si LWUA Administrator Salonga na inutusan ni Admin Joy ‘yong water district to immediately assess and repair sa gumalaw na water pipes,” Dizon added.

The national government will also provide mobile water trucks and portable purification system.

Officials also visited the Evaristo Moralizon National Vocational High School, where the school building sustained cracks. The school stands near a river, raising fears of possible soil collapse.

“Over 100 yong damage na school buildings dito lang sa Manay 38 ang totally damaged tapos tig thirty ang minor at major damages ang ginagawa namin may QRF kami Quick Response Fund pinapasa namin sa DPWH for repair,” Angara said.