A senator has committed to expedite government assistance for communities affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao, stressing the urgency of delivering relief and rehabilitation support to displaced families.
Speaking to reporters in General Santos City on Wednesday, June 24, during a relief distribution activity at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said he would coordinate directly with key national agencies to speed up the delivery of aid to affected areas.
“Andito tayo para marinig ang daing, makapaghatid ng assistance. Di kayo pinababayaan ng national government,” Pangilinan said, adding that government response efforts should be strengthened through closer coordination with local stakeholders.
He said he would engage Cabinet officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Housing Authority (NHA), and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to accelerate assistance for affected communities in General Santos City and nearby areas.
The senator also oversaw the distribution of food packs provided by the DSWD, as part of ongoing relief operations following the quake.
The lawmaker has proposed an additional P15 billion allocation to support relief, recovery, and rehabilitation programs in earthquake-hit regions, noting that field visits and consultations with local officials are essential in identifying immediate needs on the ground.
He said the Senate had already moved to support disaster response measures through a special session, following the resolution of internal leadership issues, to enable faster release of assistance for Mindanao provinces including Sarangani and Davao Oriental.
He warned that if concerned agencies fail to act swiftly, he would raise accountability concerns during upcoming budget deliberations.
“Pagka hindi nila inaksyunan ang ating hiling ngayon… hindi ako papayag na aprubahan ang budget ninyo,” he said in a separate engagement in Barangay Calumpang.
Authorities reported that the June 8 magnitude 7.8 earthquake left 78 people dead and affected around 1.5 million residents, with infrastructure damage now estimated to be worth more than P1 billion.