CBCP appeals to Pinoys in Luzon, Visayas to help Mindanaoans affected by quake

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles appealed to Pinoys in Luzon and Visayas to help Mindanaoans affected by the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck on Wednesday.

"May people who are from the outside reach out to the suffering communities and give them aid according to what they need," Valles said over church-run Radyo Veritas.

Valles also urged Mindanaoans to stay strong and care for those affected by the disaster.

The CBCP president is optimistic that through God's help, Mindanaoans will be able to recover from the quake's devastation.

Six people have been confirmed dead while 93 others were injured after the magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck in Mindanao on Wednesday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Saturday.

Based on NDRRMC's 8 a.m. situational report, the casualties were reported in Regions XI, XII, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

A total of 1,653 families (8,265 people) were also affected in 52 barangays in Regions XI and XII.

The NDRRMC also reported 1,699 damaged infrastructures in Regions XI, XII, and BARMM, wherein 329 houses, two health facilities, one public structure and two places of worship have been totally damaged.

Eighty percent of government structures in at least nine barangays of Tulunan, Cotabato have been severely damaged by the Wednesday night earthquake and succeeding aftershocks.

The towns of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur and Makilala, Cotabato have been placed under a state of calamity. Residents of Makilala said the quake was like a bomb that fell on their homes.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Executive Director Renato Solidum on Friday said the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck Cotabato last Wednesday was the strongest felt in Mindanao in recent years.

Valles led people in praying to God for those affected by the earthquake.

"Almighty Lord, source of comfort and strength in this time great difficulty and sorrow for many people and many communities in the area at Mindanao, that was hit by the earthquake, please, in your own mysterious way, touch them and be there for them. Strengthen their faith in you and strengthen their trust in one another being united and taking care of each other," he said. —KG, GMA News