After quake, typhoon, families in Sarangani get a hand rebuilding

DAVAO CITY (July 31) — FOR families whose homes were damaged by an earthquake and landslides brought by Typhoon Inday, recovery means more than having enough food for the day.

It means finding a way to repair a damaged roof, replace what was lost and make a home safe again.

That is where nearly P4 million in relief and rebuilding assistance has reached communities in Malapatan, Sarangani Province, helping some 13,000 residents affected by the disasters.

The assistance came through the #TabangMindanao Operation of B2Gold’s Philippine companies—Phil. Gold Processing & Refining Corp. (PGPRC), B2Gold Philippine Exploration Corporation (BPEC) and affiliate Filminera Resources Corporation.

The companies said the assistance totaled P3.91 million, including P1.4 million in relief supplies, P2.5 million in construction materials and P124,000 in temporary shelter assistance.

The hardest-hit communities received priority, particularly Barangays Poblacion and Sapu Masla, where 491 households sustained significant damage.

For families displaced or struggling to cope with damaged homes, the relief packs provided some immediate relief: rice, drinking water, canned goods, instant noodles, hygiene kits and sleeping supplies such as mosquito nets, sleeping mats and malongs.

But the response went beyond putting food on the table.

The companies also delivered galvanized iron sheets, marine plywood, coco lumber, nails, laminated shelter sheets, ropes and other construction materials—basic supplies that can make the difference between waiting for help and starting to rebuild.

“Our corporate social responsibility extends beyond our mining operations,” PGPRC president Ryan Rusk said, emphasizing the need for immediate action and sustained support when disasters strike.

The assistance was coordinated with the Malapatan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region XII to prioritize communities with the most urgent needs.

B2Gold regional exploration manager for Asia Pacific Tony Field said the partnership helped ensure assistance reached affected residents in a timely and coordinated manner.

Filminera president Cris Acosta likewise underscored the importance of government, communities and private groups working together during disasters.

For the families of Malapatan, however, the real measure of recovery is much simpler.

It is a repaired roof.

A safer home.

And one less worry after surviving disaster.

The #TabangMindanao Operation is providing both immediate necessities and materials to help affected households take the first steps toward rebuilding their lives.