-
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
-
Landing and takeoff operations at the airport are limited to government, military, and humanitarian flights
-
CAAP said assessments of air navigation facilities, equipment, and operational capabilities are underway to ensure the continued safety and integrity of airport operations
-
As of 10:00 am, a total of 17 cancelled flights have been reported at CAAP-operated airports, mainly to and from General Santos
-
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 (Phivolcs).
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.
Sea ports
Immediately after the issuance of Tsunami Information No. 1, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Jay Daniel Santiago directed PPA’s port management offices (PMOs) in affected areas to implement established emergency protocols, suspend non-essential port activities where necessary, and coordinate closely with concerned government agencies to ensure the safety of passengers, port workers, and surrounding communities. According to PHIVOLCS, tsunami waves exceeding one meter may affect several coastal provinces, including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato.
PPA said its “rapid response reflects the sustained Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED), which started on March 12, 2026 this year, alongside regular earthquake and tsunami drills, emergency response exercises, contingency planning activities, and coordination mechanisms with local disaster risk reduction offices and maritime stakeholders.” These preparedness measures help ensure that port personnel are equipped to respond quickly and effectively during emergencies, PPA noted.
Initial reports from PMO SOCSARGEN indicated minor structural damage in some facilities, including wall cracks and other effects caused by the strong ground shaking, assessment teams are also inspecting the Port of Malalag. Meanwhile, inspections conducted at the Ports of Sasa, Mati, and Babak showed no reported damage to port infrastructure.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered concerned government agencies to address issues arising from the earthquake.
In support of this directive, Santiago emphasized that the agency’s preparedness measures are designed to enable a rapid and coordinated response whenever emergencies occur.
“The safety of our workers, passengers, and coastal communities remains our highest priority. The PPA stands ready to work closely with local government units, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and other concerned agencies to ensure a swift, coordinated, and effective response,” Santiago said.
PPA said it continues to closely monitor the situation and remains in constant coordination with the PCG, local government units, disaster management authorities, and other concerned agencies to ensure the safety and security of port facilities and maritime stakeholders. As part of its commitment to public service, the agency stands ready to support emergency response, relief operations especially with the Ready-to-Eat-Food packs stationed in the ports nationwide.
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
