House turns over $100K aid to Turkey quake victims

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed its utmost compassion and deepest sympathies for the loss of lives and properties brought by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria last February 6.

The lower chamber adopted House Resolution (HR) 763 and consolidated with three other resolutions during its Tuesday plenary session as Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the House turned over Monday through the Speaker’s Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Initiative $100,000 financial assistance to quake victims in Turkey.

“Along with the rest of the world, the House of Representatives commiserates with those affected by the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey and hopes for healing and restoration as they rise from the rubbles of this horrifying catastrophe,” the resolution read.

“In responding to the Turkeysyria earthquake, the Philippines has organized a team of 87 rescue personnel, including military personnel, engineers and health workers, to be deployed to Turkey to help in the search and rescue operations and provide relief assistance to survivors. such as medical supplies, blankets and winter clothing,” it added, noting that a copy of the resolution will be given to the Consulate of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Embassy of Turkey in Manila.

The deadly earthquake—which triggered aftershocks and tremors that affected Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the Palestinian territories—caused the collapse and destruction of buildings, houses, and historical sites across the region, and led to more than 21,000 deaths as of February 8, 2023, tens of thousands of injuries, and a substantial number of missing persons.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed utter regret over the two Filipino lives that were lost in the tragedy and acknowledged the tireless effort of the Philippine embassy in continuously verifying information and bringing affected Filipinos to safety,” lawmakers noted in the resolution.

As rescue and recovery missions continue, the death toll is still expected to increase as rescuers endeavor to search through the rubbles for casualties and survivors, according to the House.

Romualdez turned over the $100,000 assistance to Turkey’s Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Evren Akyol and his wife Inddri Puspitarasi on Monday at his office in the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City. The funds came from the Speaker’s Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Initiative launched during his 59th birthday celebration last November 14.

The legislator said Turkey was among the first countries that sent help when Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) hit parts of the Philippines, including Leyte, in 2013.

“The assistance extended by Turkey, the United States and our allies and friends abroad helped ease the pain and suffering of our people,” Romualdez said.