The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Zamboanga is maintaining its relief assistance to victims of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on June 8, 2026, an official said Friday, June 19, 2026.
Sustained Aid with Stakeholder Support
Elenita Abano, BOC-Port of Zamboanga collector, stated that the relief assistance continues thanks to local stakeholders who are extending aid to earthquake victims in General Santos City and Sarangani province. These areas were the hardest hit by the June 8 earthquake.
Direct Delivery Encouraged
Abano advised stakeholders to send assistance directly to General Santos to speed up delivery of relief goods. She noted that rice importers in Zamboanga are helping and can coordinate with a team in General Santos.
Fundraising and Distribution
The BOC-Port of Zamboanga, with anonymous stakeholder support, raised P500,000 for quake victims a day after the earthquake. The funds purchased relief goods including ready-to-eat food, hygiene kits, bottled water, canned goods, rice, and jerry cans. These were distributed with assistance from BOC-Port of General Santos City personnel, where Abano was previously assigned.
Relief goods were transported with help from a rice importer in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, a stakeholder of BOC-Port of Zamboanga. Distribution prioritized hard-to-reach areas and those who had not yet received aid.
