PALIMBANG, Sultan Kudarat (PIA) — Residents of Sultan Kudarat, particularly in Palimbang town, underwent stress debriefing following a magnitude 5.9 earthquake off the coast of Palimbang on April 20, the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (SKPDRRMO) said.
SKPDRRMO explained that the stress debriefing sessions for affected residents underscored the significance of mental health support in disaster response.
Lovely Joy Hallegado, chief of the Sultan Kudarat PDRRMO, emphasized that emotional recovery is as essential as physical rebuilding.
“Magsilbing leksyon na seryosohin ang earthquake at tsunami drills para laging handa sa posibleng sakuna,” she said.
(Let this be a lesson for everyone to take earthquake and tsunami drills seriously so we are always prepared for possible disasters.)
PDRRMO reported that many residents, particularly those in coastal barangays of Kolong-Kolong, Baliango and Libua, experienced trauma due to the suddenness and intensity of the quake, which led to temporary evacuations.
“We cannot prevent earthquakes. What’s important is preparation. If our homes are near coastal areas, we must always be alert to the possibility of a tsunami and listen only to credible sources to avoid panic,” Hallegado added.
The initiative, conceptualized after the conduct of a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA), is being implemented in coordination with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The sessions aimed to help residents—especially those who experienced panic and displacement—cope with the psychological impact of the earthquake and its aftershocks.
Local authorities continue to encourage the public to remain vigilant and engage in community preparedness activities to enhance resilience against disasters. (ORVR, PIA Region 12)
