The front portion of a chapel in Barangay Santiago, Caraga, Davao Oriental has collapsed after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Manay town on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The chapel had already been damaged by strong earthquakes on October 10, 2025, and the recent tremor worsened its condition.
Residents are appealing for assistance to help rebuild the chapel.
“Sana po matulungan niyo kami dito. (JUMP) sana maayos na talaga to,” a resident, Evelyn Villamor, said.
According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), classes in all levels and work in private and public offices were suspended until Thursday, January 8, 2026, as damage assessment continues across all 17 barangays.
The local health station in Barangay San Antonio has been cordoned off after being declared unsafe due to structural damage from previous earthquakes.
Patients are being catered temporarily at the old barangay hall, which also shows visible cracks.
“Yong mahirap sa amin ay to hold immunization and prenatal it takes longer hours to hold them kaya kailangan namin ng mas komportableng location o area na meron silang breastfeeding area, waiting area,” Alice Sobiaco, a nurse of Barangay San Antonio Health Station, said.
MDRRMO added that the damaged health station and a daycare center are no longer safe for use and must be demolished and rebuilt, based on assessment by the Municipal Engineering Office.
“Ang budget ng LGU is not so enough kaya we are begging for the said budget to recover right away. Kung sakali may mangyayari na naman na lindol so how can we ensure the safety and security of our personnel there? We are really begging the national government to please kung may request kami pagbigyan muna kami because that is the (a) need,” Caraga MDRRMO Head, Melanie Ibañez, said.
The municipal administrator also said assistance is needed to rebuild the damaged school facilities.
“Ang hindi pa po natutugunan ng ating pamahalaan ang pag-repair ng school building kasi kahapon po nagpunta kami hindi pa po natugunan ang mga nasirang building particular sa ceiling at walling na nasira ng doublet earthquake noong last October 10,” Municipal Administrator, Eutiquio Dodong Pagsac Jr., said.
The local government said that several existing school structures are not earthquake-resilient.
“Sana yong design na i-construct na school building o lahat ng building facilities and utilities sana earthquake at typhoon-resilient…mabilis pong nag-collapse,” Pagsac added.
Meanwhile, residents of Manay town felt the trauma of past earthquakes after a strong tremor rocked the town anew on Wednesday.
A resident, Elma Catampao, could not hold back her tears and fears as the recent quake reminded them of the destructive doublet earthquakes in October 2025.
Affected families in the town are staying temporarily in modular houses in Barangay Central provided by the Philippine Red Cross.
“Ang ingon man gud is one year rami dinhi hangtod, unya wala mi kabalo kung unsa bay matabang pa nila saamoa…ang gusto unta namo maam is relocation kay ang advise man gud sa Red Cross, kung magpa-rebuild mi dapat dili na didto sa area nag-problema mi kung asa napud mi magpatukod,” Catampao said.
Residents also raised water concerns, although the Philippine Army has already provided a water purification system to ensure access to clean water.
“Pag walang mahatid na tubig ang BFP wala kaming tubig kasi pag walang fuel na mabigay ang LGU wala ring maihatid ang BFP so wala kaming tubig. Doon kami kumukuha sa spring o tubod,” Catampao added.
The local government has yet to comment, as of this writing.
