CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental — Top national officials led by Vice President Sara Duterte and key Cabinet secretaries convened in Davao Oriental on Saturday, October 11, 2025, to coordinate comprehensive response and rehabilitation efforts following the devastating doublet earthquakes that struck the province.
The series of meetings brought together Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, who joined Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang in a high-level inter-agency coordination meeting held at Kanato Hall, Subangan Tourism Complex in Mati City.
Organized by the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, the session aimed to synchronize disaster response, relief operations, and long-term rehabilitation strategies in the aftermath of the 7.6- and 6.9-magnitude earthquakes that shook the province. Provincial Administrator MGen. Jose Eriel Niembra (Ret.), along with key provincial offices such as the PDRRMO, PEO, PHO, and PHIVOLCS, presented detailed reports on damages, ongoing assistance, and identified needs for recovery.
Governor Dayanghirang expressed deep gratitude to the national government for its immediate action and unwavering support. “Davao Oriental may have been shaken, but its people remain steadfast and united,” he said, emphasizing the resilience of Mindanawons in the face of adversity.
Secretary Gatchalian assured continuous DSWD assistance to affected families, including food packs and emergency shelter aid. Secretary Dizon committed to the rapid assessment and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and other key infrastructures, while Secretary Angara underscored DepEd’s priority to ensure the safety and return of students and teachers to their learning routines. For his part, Secretary Magno emphasized that MinDA will focus on long-term recovery measures and strengthening community resilience across Mindanao.
Vice President Sara Duterte also met with Governor Dayanghirang at La-ne’s Kan-anan in Mati City to assess the ground situation and express solidarity with the people of Davao Oriental. She assured the province of the national government’s full support, stressing that immediate and sustained aid will reach the affected communities.
Both the Vice President and the Governor reaffirmed their commitment to a unified recovery approach, highlighting that collaboration among national and local agencies is key to restoring normalcy and rebuilding lives.
The coordination meeting concluded with Governor Dayanghirang outlining the province’s “Ways Ahead” — focusing on intensified inter-agency coordination, capacity-building for responders, and fast-tracked rehabilitation of critical infrastructures.
True to the Mindanawon spirit, Davao Oriental’s leaders, responders, and citizens stand united—extending help, hope, and healing to all those impacted by the calamity.