MLANG, COTABAATO—President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to quake survivors for not immediately coming to their aid after a series of quakes struck the provinces of Cotabato and Davao del Sur last October and December.
Duterte, who arrived at the Mlang National High School campus past noon on Monday (Dec. 30), said he was still dealing with the now controversial contracts of water concessionaires in Metro Manila when the quakes struck.
Evacuees from neighboring towns of Tulunan, Arakan and Makilala and Kidapawan City, some of them skipping breakfast, patiently waited for the President, who arrived three hours late.
“Despite the circumstances, we must carry on,” the President told the evacuees.
He said he was “in solidarity” with survivors of the Mindanao quakes.
He said he acknowledged the help of the local government of Cotabato and national government agencies for the quake survivors “during their time of need.”
“I assure you that the government will continue to help all of you until you are able to get back on your feet and start anew with renewed hope and greater capacity to live dignified lives,” Duterte said in a speech he read.
Duterte also condoled with the loved ones of people who died during the series of quakes that has claimed more than 22 lives and wounded hundreds of residents in the province of Cotabato alone.
“I share your grief,” he said. “That’s why I’m here, I forced myself to and I must apologize,” Duterte said.
“I am very sorry that I could not be here immediately. I have too many problems with Maynilad, I was busy with the water concessionaires,” Duterte said, referring to one of the water concessionaires that he had accused of foisting disadvantageous contracts on the government.
“I hope that the assistance that I gave you today will make you feel the warmth and joy of the Christmas season despite your current situation,” he said.
“Be assured that this administration will stay true to its promise of embodying ‘tapang and malasakit’ for all, especially those who are most in need,” said the President, using the Filipino words for courage and sympathy.
Duterte later flew to Padaca town, Davao del Sur province to also distribute food and money to another set of quake survivors.
The Cotabato provincial disaster office said more than 14,000 families had been displaced by the Dec. 15 quake. More than 6,000 of them are still in evacuation camps, it said.
At least 22 people had been reported dead in the quakes in Cotabato while 320 were injured and nine are missing.
In Cotabato, officials counted more than 8,000 houses destroyed and nearly 20,000 heavily damaged.
Duterte distributed a total of P4 million in checks to the provincial government of Cotabato—P2 million for Mlang town and another P2 million for the town of Arakan.
Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco said the provincial government and Mines and Geosciences Bureau had been conducting post-quake studies in villages in Arakan, Makilala, Tulunan and Mlang.
Results of the studies, she said, would help the provincial government decide whether to allow evacuees to return to their homes or find them a new community in a safer area.