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The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines temporarily suspended commercial operations at General Santos Airport following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake this morning (June 8) in Sarangani and the tsunami warning
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Landing and takeoff operations at the airport are limited to government, military, and humanitarian flights
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CAAP said assessments of air navigation facilities, equipment, and operational capabilities are underway to ensure the continued safety and integrity of airport operations
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As of 10:00 am, a total of 17 cancelled flights have been reported at CAAP-operated airports, mainly to and from General Santos
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The scheduled voyage of M/V Reina Banderada bound for Zamboanga City has been cancelled as of 9:00 am on June 8, following the tsunami warning
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Sea ports across the southern coast of Mindanao are undergoing assessment
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is temporarily suspending commercial operations at General Santos Airport following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake this morning off the coast of Sarangani and the tsunami warning issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Landing and takeoff operations at the airport are limited to government, military, and humanitarian flights.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is in effect from 8:45 am to 3:00 pm today (June 8), CAAP said in a statement.
CAAP said assessments of air navigation facilities, equipment, and operational capabilities are currently underway to ensure the continued safety and integrity of airport operations.
Passengers are also advised to coordinate with their respective airlines for updates on the status of their flights.
As of 10:00 am, a total of 17 cancelled flights have been reported at CAAP-operated airports:
Cebu Pacific (11 flights)
- 5J4843 – Iloilo to General Santos
- 5J4844 – General Santos to Iloilo
- 5J998 – General Santos to Manila
- 5J993 – Manila to General Santos
- 5J994 – General Santos to Manila
- 5J995 – Manila to General Santos
- 5J996 – General Santos to Manila
- 5J249 – Cebu to General Santos
- 5J250 – General Santos to Cebu
- 5J991 – Manila to General Santos
- 5J992 – General Santos to Manila
PAL Express (4 flights)
- 2P2357 – Cebu-General Santos
- 2P2358 – General Santos-Cebu
- 2P2455 – Manila-General Santos
- 2P2456 – General Santos-Manila
Philippine Airlines (2 flights)
- PR453 – Manila-General Santos
- PR454 – General Santos-Manila
PAL later advised these flights to and from General Santos City scheduled from June 9-11, 2026 are also canceled:
- PR 453/454 – Manila-General Santos-Manila
- PR 2455/2456 – Manila-General Santos-Manila
- PR 2339/2340 – Cebu-General Santos-Cebu
- PR 2357/2358 – Cebu-General Santos-Cebu
The Bangsamoro Ports Management Authority (BPMA), meanwhile, announced that the scheduled voyage of M/V Reina Banderada bound for Zamboanga City has been cancelled as of 9:00 am on June 8, following the tsunami warning, to prioritize the safety and welfare of passengers, crew members, and maritime operations.
According to the vessel operator, Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc., the estimated resumption of the voyage is at 4:00 pm June 8, subject to the lifting of safety advisories and clearance from the concerned authorities.
BPMA advised all affected passengers to stay informed through official announcements and coordinate with the shipping line and port authorities for updates regarding travel schedules.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered concerned government agencies to address issues arising from the earthquake.
Marcos said the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council are coordinating disaster response efforts and monitoring the situation across all affected areas.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has been directed to pre-position relief goods and ensure that evacuation centers are ready and operational.
The Department of Public Works and Highways is on standby to assess damage to roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure, and to clear routes needed for rescue and relief operations.
Marcos also ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in affected areas across Mindanao until further notice.
Marcos said the national government is mobilizing all necessary resources and assured the public that Mindanao will not be left behind.
“I am in constant communication with our regional offices and local chief executives on the ground,” Marcos said.
Sea ports
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in separate social media posts said emergency response protocols have been implemented in its port management offices of Zamboanga and Davao, with employees evacuating at designated evacuation areas.
For PMO Zamboanga, preliminary inspections and monitoring were conducted at port facilities and infrastructure to check for possible damages and effects of the earthquake to port operations.
PMO Zamboanga is continuously coordinating with concerned agencies to gather and verify more information, as well as to continuously monitor the situation.
PMO Davao conducted an inspection and suspended work pursuant to local ordinance.
PMO Davao is monitoring the situation, particularly in relation to the tsunami warning issued for Davao Occidental. The tsunami warning was later cancelled by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
PMO SOCSARGEN, whose jurisdiction includes General Santos port, activated emergency response protocols in its ports and facilities.
As part of safety measures, employees and personnel were evacuated and inspection of facilities were conducted to check for possible structural damages due to the earthquake.
PMO SOCSARGEN said it continues to monitor the citation and is coordinating with relevant government agencies to continue assessment and implementation of safety procedures.
Initial reports from the OCD, as reported by local and national media, indicate more than 10 people have died and over 100 injured in different areas relating to earthquake-related incidents.— Roumina Pablo
