Joint Task Force (JTF) Agila intensified its humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations on Saturday, June 13, 2026, across earthquake-affected communities in Sarangani Province and Davao Occidental, deploying troops alongside local government units, national government agencies, and civilian volunteers to ensure the timely delivery of relief assistance to affected families.
The operations, announced by the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division's Public Affairs Office based in Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Mawab, Davao de Oro, marked a significant escalation in military-led humanitarian efforts in the disaster zone as communities continued to recover from the impact of the recent earthquake.
Troops Assist in Unloading Over 2,500 Food Packages in Davao Occidental
On June 13, JTF Agila troops assisted in the unloading of 1,000 food packs and 1,584 ready-to-eat food boxes at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warehouse in Malita, Davao Occidental. The operation was aimed at reinforcing relief stockpiles intended for communities hardest hit by the earthquake.
The combined total of 2,584 food provisions processed at the DSWD warehouse represents one component of a broader logistics effort coordinated between the Philippine Army, the DSWD, and partner agencies in the region. Malita, the capital municipality of Davao Occidental, serves as a key distribution hub for relief goods flowing into affected areas in the province.
The unloading operation required significant manpower coordination, with army personnel working alongside DSWD staff and civilian volunteers to ensure that goods were properly received, catalogued, and stored for subsequent distribution to affected families.
Soldiers Repack and Distribute Relief Supplies Across Sarangani Province
In Sarangani Province, JTF Agila soldiers provided critical manpower and security support across multiple stages of the relief supply chain, including the hauling, repacking, transport, and actual distribution of relief goods. Items distributed included food packs, rice, and potable water.
Army personnel worked closely with local responders and partner agencies to maintain order and efficiency throughout the distribution process, ensuring that assistance reached affected residents in a safe and organized manner. The military's logistical capacity proved essential in navigating the operational demands of post-disaster relief distribution in remote or hard-to-access communities.
The involvement of soldiers in hands-on relief logistics — beyond their traditional security mandate — reflects the broader HADR doctrine adopted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in response to large-scale disasters, where military assets and personnel are deployed as force multipliers in civilian-led relief operations.
Mobile Kitchen and Water Purification Unit Deployed in Glan
Among the most operationally significant deployments during the June 13 operations was the Philippine Army's Mobile Kitchen and Water Purification System, which was activated in Glan, Sarangani Province. The unit provided hot meals and safe drinking water directly to families affected by the earthquake.
The Mobile Kitchen system allows the military to prepare and serve hot, cooked meals in field conditions, offering a nutritional supplement to pre-packaged relief goods. The Water Purification System, meanwhile, addresses a critical need in post-disaster environments where local water infrastructure may be damaged or compromised, ensuring that affected residents have access to potable water.
Glan, located in the southernmost part of Sarangani Province, is among the municipalities in the region vulnerable to the cascading effects of seismic events, including infrastructure damage, displacement, and disruption of basic services. The deployment of the mobile unit there signals the military's recognition of the area's acute humanitarian needs in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
According to the 10th Infantry Division's public affairs release, the mobile kitchen and water purification capabilities served as a "critical lifeline" for communities in recovery, complementing the broader relief architecture established by government agencies and humanitarian partners operating in the area.
Multi-Agency Coordination Underpins the Relief Response
The humanitarian operations conducted by JTF Agila are part of a wider, multi-agency response framework coordinated among several government institutions and civil society partners. According to the public affairs release, key entities involved in the operations include the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units in the affected areas, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), local disaster response offices, and civilian volunteers.
The integration of these agencies reflects the whole-of-government approach mandated under the Philippines' disaster risk reduction and management framework, which designates coordinated inter-agency action as the operational standard for large-scale disaster response. The DSWD, as the lead social protection agency, oversees the management and distribution of relief goods, while the AFP and PNP provide logistical support, security, and manpower augmentation.
Local government units in both Sarangani Province and Davao Occidental play a pivotal role in identifying the most affected communities, coordinating with barangay-level officials, and facilitating the last-mile delivery of assistance to displaced or otherwise isolated residents.
Major General Luzon Commends Troops and Partner Agencies
Major General Alvin Luzon, Commander of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division and Joint Task Force Agila, issued a formal commendation to soldiers and partner agencies serving in the field as of June 13, 2026, recognizing the dedication demonstrated by personnel operating under difficult post-disaster conditions.
"In times of adversity, our soldiers stand ready not only to protect our communities but also to help them recover. Together with our partners, JTF Agila remains committed to bringing timely assistance, hope, and reassurance to every affected family," Maj. Gen. Luzon said in a statement released by the Division Public Affairs Office.
Maj. Gen. Luzon's remarks underscore the dual mandate increasingly associated with the AFP's operational posture in the southern Philippines — one that encompasses both national security functions and active participation in civilian disaster response and community support operations.
The 10th Infantry Division, which serves as the primary ground force formation for the Eastern Mindanao Command area of responsibility, has historically been at the forefront of HADR operations in Mindanao, given the region's exposure to both natural and man-made disasters.
JTF Agila Pledges Continued Operations as Communities Begin Recovery
As of June 13, 2026, JTF Agila stated that relief operations in both Sarangani Province and Davao Occidental remain ongoing, with the task force pledging continued support to government-led recovery and rebuilding efforts in the affected communities.
The task force's public affairs release emphasized that troops will remain deployed in affected areas for as long as humanitarian needs persist, maintaining the military's operational presence as a stabilizing and support element during the recovery phase. The continuation of the Mobile Kitchen and Water Purification System deployment in Glan, in particular, was flagged as a priority given the sustained water and food security needs of residents in the municipality.
Broader recovery efforts are expected to involve infrastructure assessment, debris clearing, and the gradual restoration of basic services — phases in which the AFP's engineering and logistics assets are typically engaged in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other relevant agencies.
The public affairs statement was issued by Maj. Ruben L. Gadut (INF) PA, Officer-in-Charge and Chief of the Division Public Affairs Office, 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr., Mawab, Davao de Oro.
No casualty figures or a detailed damage assessment for the earthquake were included in the June 13 public affairs release. Further updates on the scope and magnitude of the disaster, including the number of affected families and the extent of infrastructure damage, are expected from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and relevant regional offices as the situation continues to develop.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Joint Task Force Agila / Philippine Army Public Affairs Office