Philippines Earthquake: Slow Recovery Leaves Survivors in 'Pigado' State

Weeks after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines, recovery efforts remain slow, leaving survivors in a 'pigado' (difficult) state, according to Rappler's reporting. The local term, 'pigado,' is used in Cebu to describe situations that are hard to manage or impossible to overcome. In Sarangani province and General Santos City, survivors of the June 8 earthquake described their situation as 'pigado' nearly two weeks after the event. This same word was used by farmers unable to access their harvest due to landslides and by fisherfolk facing a month-long restriction from shorelines. Families are also mourning the deaths of children. Recovery has been slow, mirroring the aftermath of the magnitude 6.9 quake in northern Cebu on September 30, 2025. In that disaster, businesses closed, families slept in tents, and many roads were destroyed or blocked by debris. However, what sets the Mindanao quake apart is the magnitude of the damage and destruction. The last situation report for the Cebu quake aftermath on October 24, 2025, listed 750,814 affected individuals, 79 deaths, and 559 injured persons, with infrastructure damage pegged at P73 million. In contrast, a June 30, 2026, situation report for the Mindanao quake aftermath tallied 1.67 million affected individuals, 88 deaths, 1,316 injured, and 24 missing persons, with infrastructure damage estimated at P1.4 billion. Seeing the devastation up close was harrowing. On June 17, a team visited Sitio Datal Salvan in Barangay San Jose, General Santos City, where around 400 residents were staying at a makeshift shelter set up on a community drier. A community drier is an open-spaced concrete ground typically used for drying crops, which can become dangerously hot, posing risks for senior citizens and children. On June 19, the team visited Adelina T. Recto Elementary School in Barangay Pangyan, Glan, Sarangani. The principal lamented that the school, which was a beacon of hope for the children of farmers and fisherfolk, was now unusable and condemned due to earth movement and multiple safety hazards. The earthquake not only took away livelihoods but also extinguished the dreams of many families striving to escape poverty. The affected towns and cities still have a long way to go before they can get back on their feet. The report concludes by emphasizing the power of storytelling in disaster coverage. After the fieldwork, netizens quickly commented on Rappler's posts, asking where they could send help. The article calls for continued support for such journalism to keep the stories of affected communities alive and drive more aid. Information Source: Rappler Philippines