Members of the Senate’s newly established majority bloc pledged on Tuesday to donate one month’s worth of their salaries to aid communities devastated by a powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Mindanao, which has left dozens dead and caused widespread destruction.
In a joint statement, the lawmakers explained that the funds aim to deliver urgent relief to displaced families and support ongoing recovery and rehabilitation initiatives in the worst-hit areas.
“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 bloc also urged members of the minority group to participate, stressing the need for unity over political division during a major national crisis.
“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.”
Meanwhile, government agencies have mobilized to assist affected populations following the massive offshore earthquake, which struck Monday morning and triggered tsunami advisories across parts of the Pacific region.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) noted that the tremor occurred at 7:37 a.m. and was later upgraded to magnitude 7.8 from an initial assessment of 7.0.
According to PHIVOLCS, the quake’s epicenter was traced roughly 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, with a depth of 33 kilometers.
The agency had previously advised coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground after international agencies issued widespread tsunami warnings.