As soon as the structural safety of the heritage site is confirmed with careful coordination with local authorities, there are guidelines for how site caretakers must deal with the assessment and documentation of these damaged historical landmarks awaiting possible rehabilitation.
On the heels of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit offshore Sarangani on Monday morning, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) posted on social media guidelines for handling heritage sites after such a situation.
Safety of personnel is still the most important consideration.
Caretakers of heritage sites are instructed to avoid entering damaged structures until local government authorities confirm that the area is “deemed safe” with no imminent aftershocks.
See the full text of NHCP’s reminders below:
With the recent reports on the 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake in Sarangani Bay earlier today, 8 June 2026, the NHCP reiterates these reminders to all caretakers of heritage in the affected areas:
1. Please do not attempt to enter damaged structures without prior coordination with local authorities, and only after confirming that aftershocks have ceased and the area is deemed safe. Your safety is paramount.
2. Secure the premises of the structure and protect entry and exit points to deter kibitzers and unnecessary people from entering. You can use barricades and caution ribbons for this.
3. Check the stability of the structure before doing any retrieval/salvage work. Wear protective clothing ( i.e. hard hats, appropriate gloves, brightly colored clothes) before entering the premises of damaged buildings.
4. Document/take photographs of damaged objects. Be wary of debris that might fall down on you.
5. With utmost care, retrieve and wrap the objects if possible with japanese tissue/clean cloth on sturdy boxes, taking as many broken parts as you can. If circumstances permit, label and group various broken parts together for easier identification later. It is IMPORTANT to retreive at the soonest time, the damaged objects as they are prone to further damages (should aftershocks occur, or heavy rains, etc.) and in the case of damaged and unguarded buildings, thieves and vandals.
6. If time and circumstances permit, it is recommended that other undamaged moveable objects be also retrieved for protection.
7. Bring the retrieved objects to a safe place identified by the heritage site administrator/s and away from the damaged structure. Take detailed photographs of damage incurred and label broken parts. Do create a quick inventory which contains the name of the object, measurements, component materials, present condition and damage/s observed.
8. Consult professionals and skilled artisans in the restoration of the damaged objects.
We are committed to supporting efforts to safeguard our cultural heritage and stand ready to provide technical guidance as needed. We stand in solidarity with all affected citizens in these events.
????????????????????????????????: Be careful of the photos that you upload on social media as this can be used as reference for displacers, thieves and unwanted personages.
Your personal safety is of utmost concern.
Again, do not attempt to enter damaged buildings without consultation and coordination with site administrators and experts. You may report and contact the National Historical Commission of the Philippines at our social media pages or at records@nhcp.gov.ph / info@nhcp.gov.ph
(End of NHCP text)
