The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed a mobile desalination unit to supply potable water to communities affected by the recent earthquake in Barangay Butulan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
The operation, carried out on June 14, 2026, forms part of ongoing relief efforts in Mindanao as authorities respond to urgent basic needs in disaster-hit areas.
According to the PCG, the desalinator unit is operated by trained personnel and is capable of producing up to 10,000 liters of safe drinking water per day. The facility is expected to help ease the strain on local water supply systems disrupted by the earthquake.
Access to clean water remains one of the immediate concerns in affected communities, alongside shelter, food, and medical assistance, as recovery operations continue.
The deployment also underscores the Coast Guard’s broader humanitarian response framework under its Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Enforcement (iCARE) program, which supports disaster-stricken areas through rapid logistical and technical assistance.
PCG officials said the initiative reflects sustained efforts to bring essential services closer to affected populations, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach communities, while broader recovery operations are still underway.