Gatchalian bloc to donate 1 month's salary to Mindanao earthquake victims

Members of the Gatchalian-led Senate majority bloc on Tuesday said they will donate a month's worth of their salaries to aid the victims of the Mindanao earthquake.

In a joint statement, the senators expressed solidarity with the quake victims.

“The Senate New Majority stands with the families and communities in Mindanao who are now facing the painful work of rescue, relief, rebuilding and recovery after the powerful earthquake,” the statement reads.

The lawmakers committed to donating a month of their salaries as they called on the Cayetano bloc to join their efforts.

"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," they said.

On Monday, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck offshore Sarangani in Mindanao.

Latest death toll stands at 37, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). A total of 456 persons were injured and four individuals remained missing.

“Our contribution should go to immediate needs such as food, clean water, medicine, temporary shelter and other assistance identified by local communities and responders on the ground,” the senators said.

“We will continue to coordinate with the proper national and local authorities to support relief, reconstruction and the safe restoration of essential services in affected areas,” they added. —AOL, GMA News