MANILA, Philippines — Senators have donated a total of P2.5 million for the victims of the earthquake that ravaged Turkey over a month ago, said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Zubiri announced during the Senate plenary session on Tuesday, March 7, that the 24 senators had donated P100,00 each from their own pockets.
“I doubled the amount, so we were able to come up with P2.5 million ($45,390) to be donated to the Red Crescent Society of Turkey through the Philippine Red Cross,” he said.
They then adopted Senate Resolution No. 480, co-sponsored by all senators, which expresses the profound sympathies of the upper chamber to the victims and families in earthquake-battered Turkey and Syria.
Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Evren Aykol and former senator and chairman of the Philippine Red Cross Richard Gordon were present to receive the resolution and donation of the Senate for earthquake relief efforts in Turkey.
Earlier, the House of Representatives, through the Speaker’s Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation initiative, handed over $100,000 in humanitarian aid to the victims of the fatal tragedy.
READ: PH to donate $100,000 in humanitarian aid to Turkey quake victims
A massive 7.8 temblor rocked the Middle Eastern country on Monday, February 6, killing at least 43,000 people.
READ: Earthquake death toll in Turkey rises to 43,556, minister says
The Philippines had deployed an 82-member inter-agency rescue group to Turkey. The team returned to the Philippines on Tuesday, February 28, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
READ: OCD says PH medical team in Turkey treated thousands during entire deployment