President: Mindanao rehab efforts can’t start if aftershocks still happen

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds a situation briefing in General Santos City following a strong earthquake that hit Sarangani on Nov. 17, 2023. Screengrab from Bongbong Marcos Instagram story

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that rebuilding efforts in Mindanao, following the Nov. 17 earthquake, cannot be done while there are still aftershocks.

Marcos went to General Santos City to assess the situation following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani.

“Yung mga rebuilding, hindi pa natin puwedeng simulan dahil may aftershocks pa. Ang problema sa lindol, walang forecast – hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari,” President Marcos said in an interview with media.

READ: Marcos orders all relevant gov’t agencies to respond to Sarangani quake

(The rebuilding cannot be started yet while there are still aftershocks. The problem with earthquakes is there is no forecast—we do not know when it will happen.)

READ: Magnitude 6.8 earthquake jolts Sarangani

Marcos said however, that the government is providing all the assistance it could, especially to those affected by the earthquake.

While in General Santos City, Marcos distributed aid to those affected by the earthquake. He was joined by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and former senator Manny Pacquiao.