Sarangani: The Department of Health (DOH) has dispatched a team of medical specialists to enhance emergency response efforts in Sarangani, following a devastating earthquake.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) is scheduled to arrive in Glan, Sarangani by Sunday. The team will bring with them a portable, gravity-powered ultrafiltration unit capable of delivering thousands of liters of safe and clean drinking water daily, alongside essential medicines such as anti-diarrheal drugs.

The PEMAT includes a diverse group of medical professionals: 2 surgeons, 2 obstetrician-gynecologists, 2 emergency medicine specialists, 2 anesthesiologists, 2 pediatricians, 1 internist, 17 nurses, 2 midwives, 2 radiation technologists, 1 medical technologist, 1 physical therapist, and 1 mental health specialist. They will be supported by biomedical and electrical engineers, as well as administrative staff.

Undersecretary Albert Domingo stated that the deployment follows an instruction from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., emphasizing the need for continuous support for those affected by the earthquake. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sarangani province at 7:37 am on June 8, coinciding with the opening of classes in public schools.

Videos circulating online show the collapse of commercial establishments and school buildings due to the quake, with intensities ranging from I to VIII recorded across Regions 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.