House members agree to donate portion of salaries to Batanes earthquake victims

FILE: Aerial photo shows the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake that hit Batanes recently. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas and a situation briefing with members of his cabinet and local government officials at the Basco Airport on July 28, 2019 to discuss disaster response measures in the aftermath of the earthquake. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Members of the House of Representatives have agreed to donate a part of their salaries to provide assistance to victims of the twin earthquakes that hit Batanes over the weekend.

Each congressman is expected to donate a minimum of P5,000 from his or her salary, House Majority Leader and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez said in a statement on Tuesday, July 30.

With the lower chamber consisting of 300 members, it would be able to raise at least P1.5-million or even higher.

“This is just the minimum amount pegged by the House resolution. The contribution may even reach P3 million up to P5 million as some congressmen have indicated willingness to donate P50,000 to P100,000 from their salary,” Romualdez said.

Apart from the monetary aid, he said that the congressmen also want to donate relief goods which will be turned over to Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato, Jr. for distribution to appropriate agencies tasked to bring the goods to the province.

He added that those people who want to help the victims may also send their donations through Gato’s Chief of Staff, lawyer Rachel Derigay.

Gato’s office said the victims urgently need hygiene kits, wet wipes, mosquito repellents, reusable eating utensils, generator sets for water pumping stations, and portalets.

The House also adopted on Monday House Resolution (HR) No. 139 expressing the “profound sympathies” and “deepest condolences” of the congressmen to those affected by the twin earthquakes. It was penned by Romualdez, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, and House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante,  Jr.

The congressmen also called on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other relevant organizations  to “expedite humanitarian assistance and restore normalcy to the affected areas.”

Last Saturday, the town of Itbayat in Batanes was rocked by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake which was followed by a stronger magnitude 5.9 quake. As of writing, the death toll in the twin earthquakes has climbed to nine, while more than 60 were injured, according to the NRRMC.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday went to Batanes to conduct an aerial inspection to assess the damage caused by the earthquakes. The Chief Executive had vowed to give P40-million to Batanes to be used for the construction of a new health facility.

“I hope you’d put it to good use. The 40 million would bring you something like small parang  (like a) clinic, hospital. Hindi naman kayo marami dito (You are not many here),” he said.