The Manila Times

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New majority to donate one-month salary to Mindanao relief efforts, invites minority to do same

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate majority bloc will donate one month salary, or about P300,000 each, to relief efforts in Mindanao, following a powerful 7.8 earthquake that hit the region Monday morning. In a joint statement, the 12-member majority invited fellow senators from the 10-member minority group to join them in the effort to help victims of the tremor that devastated parts of Mindanao. The majority is composed of Sens. Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Chiz Escudero, Win Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Francis Pangilinan, Vicente Sotto III, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, and Migz Zubiri. “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,” they said. The members of the minority bloc are Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald Dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar. “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 majority said. "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 added. As of early Tuesday, Office of Civil Defense deputy spokesman Diego Mariano said that as of 6 a.m., the quake left at least 41 people dead, 456 people injured, and four missing. It affected 17,689 families or 77,186 people. At least 5,343 families or 19,365 people are staying in evacuation centers.

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