Marcos pledges P50K aid for families of Mindanao earthquake fatalities

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government will be providing P50,000 to the bereaved families of those who died due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Mindanao on Monday.

The President said this during his visit to General Santos City to inspect affected areas and oversee the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to residents.

“Lahat ng pamilya na meron silang casualty na biktima na nasawi, magbibigay tayo ng tig-P50,000 para sa kanila, para tulong dun sa kanilang naging malapit sa kanila na namatay,” Marcos said.

(All families who have someone who died due to the earthquake will be given P50,000 each as assistance.)

Forty-five individuals have so far been reported dead due to the powerful earthquake, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The NDRRMC said 33 of the reported deaths were from Soccsksargen, while 12 were from Davao Region.

Marcos said that P100 million was also provided to the General Santos local government under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to repair the damaged city hall.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will also release funds, also under the LGSF, for infrastructure repair in Sarangani and South Cotabato, he said.

“Meron din damage doon pero dito talaga ang pinaka (There was damage there, but this is really the hardest hit)," Marcos said.

Upon landing in General Santos City, the President visited St. Elizabeth Hospital along Santiago Boulevard, and went to the AICS distribution at the General Santos City Oval Plaza.

Marcos also inspected the Romana C. Acharon Central Elementary School–PAGCOR Building in Purok Cahilsot Village and the General Santos National High School–Grade 9 Mainstream Building in Calumpang.

General Santos City has been declared under a state of calamity due to the impact of the strong earthquake. —VBL, GMA News