New Senate Majority Pledges Month's Pay For Quake-Hit Mindanao

MANILA, June 9 (Bernama-PNA) -- Members of the Senate's new majority bloc on Tuesday pledged to donate one month's salary to support relief and recovery efforts in communities devastated by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao, Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

In a joint statement, the group also called on their colleagues in the minority bloc to join the initiative, saying the disaster presents an opportunity for the Senate to show unity despite political differences.

“As a personal contribution to the relief effort, members of the Senate New Majority are prepared to donate one month of our salary to help support affected communities,” the senators said.

The bloc said the contribution is intended to help families facing the immediate challenges of rescue, relief, rebuilding and recovery following the powerful quake, which, according to the Office of Civil Defense, left at least 37 people dead, 456 injured and four missing as of 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The disaster also affected 17,689 families or 77,186 individuals, with 5,343 families taking shelter in evacuation centers.

“While this is a small contribution, we hope our colleagues in the minority will join us in this effort. After all, we are senators of all Filipino people. This is a moment when the Senate, whatever its internal divisions, can still speak through one act of shared compassion,” the group said.

The senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, said the assistance should be directed toward urgent needs identified by local communities and responders, including food, clean water, medicines, temporary shelter and other essential support while damage assessments continue.

They added the donation is meant not only to provide financial assistance but also to reassure affected residents that they are not facing the crisis alone.

“We believe the first step of sincere sympathy is to assure the people of Mindanao that the government is ready to help in times of need," the group said.

They urged Filipinos who are able to extend assistance through donations, volunteer work or prayers, and vowed to coordinate with national agencies and local governments to support ongoing relief operations, reconstruction efforts and the restoration of essential services in affected areas. 

-- BERNAMA-PNA