Chancellor Shidik Zed Abantas says almost 90% of their offices had already been repaired and renovated before the earthquake hit.
SARANGANI, Philippines – Four days after a a strong earthquake shook parts of Mindanao on June 8, the extent of the damage continues to spread across the region.
The Mindanao State University in Santos City (MSU-GenSan) is facing damage to the campus infrastructure previously estimated at around 870 million, Chancellor Shidik Zed Abantas said in an interview with Rappler.
The figure shows the extent of the construction of damaged academic buildings, administrative offices and student facilities across the campus.
“For the first time, our earthquake-tested buildings showed fragility when subjected to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake,” Abantas wrote on Facebook.
The damage is very painful for the university administrators who had spent years to repair the university facilities. According to Abantas, almost 90% of the offices had already been repaired and renovated before the earthquake struck.
“It’s a shame (Such a loss). We have managed to repair and renovate almost 90 percent of our offices,” he said. “Let’s go back to zero (We are back to zero).”
Abantas told Rappler that academic activities will continue but summer classes will move online while repairs and security assessments continue.
University records show that MSU-GenSan serves approximately 9,500 students across nine colleges and one institute, including more than 8,600 undergraduate students. Located on a 162.4-hectare campus in Barangay Fatima, General Santos City, the university is one of the main provincial government institutions with students not only from the city but also from neighboring provinces.
No boundaries
Among the university’s biggest concerns is the fate of the Y-Building, a 47-year-old structure that houses several key administrative offices. The building, which serves as the center of the university’s daily activities, was officially declared off-limits by the authorities on June 9.
“Without it, we cannot function,” Abantas said.
With the building deemed unsafe, university staff began recovering documents and equipment and moving offices to temporary workspaces in the Center for Science and Technology Studies.
Even as evacuation efforts continue, the university’s focus has shifted to ensuring the safety of its remaining structures. Abantas said there is ongoing monitoring and inspection as the administration works to get the equipment needed for immediate repairs.
“As much as possible, we want to save our buildings and we need experts,” Abantas added.
A salvageable structure
Despite the extent of the damage, the university administration said some of the most affected buildings remain structurally salvageable.
Abantas said in Facebook on June 9 that preliminary engineering assessments found that the four-story College of Medicine building remained structurally sound despite sustaining “significant architectural damage.”
“Preliminary reports from our engineers indicate that while the College of Medicine building remains structurally sound, it has suffered significant architectural damage,” the chancellor said.
The College of Medicine building is located on the MSU-GenSan College of Education campus in the center of the city, 24 km from the university.
Instead of requiring a complete rebuild, the building can still undergo renovations and strengthening measures to restore its functionality and improve its resilience against future earthquakes, said Abantas.
“Our building is definitely not lost,” Abantas added.
Help is needed
Abantas said they are seeking help from the national government to get MSU-GenSan back on its feet.
“We need about one billion to get back to normal. So we will be encouraging national organizations to help. MSU-GenSan, more than ever, needs help to be able to stand again,” he said.
As the university moves forward with recovery efforts, national officials are expected to assess the extent of the damage themselves. The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Shirley Agrupis is scheduled to visit the campus on June 13.
Abantas said the university administration is finalizing a detailed damage assessment report to be submitted to CHED, the Department of Budget and Management, and Malacañang.
The report is expected to form the basis of the university’s application for funding support. – Rappler.com
Rey Mark Paran is a statistics major at the University of the Philippines Visayas. Graduate of Aries Rufo Journalism Rappler Fellowship for 2025, he is also the editor-in-chief of the sun is rising.
