Xinhua reported citing the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology that the quake, which occurred at 4:48 a.m. local time (GMT 2048 Monday), hit at a depth of 76 kilometers, about 119 kilometers southeast of Sarangani island in the municipality of Sarangani.
The institute said the tectonic quake is expected to trigger aftershocks but does not pose a tsunami threat.
There is no report of casualties.
The archipelagic Philippines has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
AMK/PR