Duterte orders gov’t agencies to help quake-affected residents in Mindanao

October 29, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered concerned government agencies to ensure necessary assistance would be extended to residents affected by a strong earthquake in Mindanao, Malacanang said on Tuesday.

"The President is concerned with what happened in the latest earthquake in Mindanao and he wants to - or he has directed all the agencies to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquake and continue with their usual reaction to situations such as this one," said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

He said Duterte was in Manila when magnitude 6.6 earthquake rocked parts of Mindanao on Tuesday morning with the epicenter at Tulunan, Cotabato, the same area, which was hit by 6.3 magnitude tremor on October 16.

He said Duterte might visit the areas affected by the tremor before he leaves for Thailand to attend the ASEAN summit this week.

Panelo urged the citizens to remain calm but vigilant.

He also asked the public to refrain from spreading disinformation that may cause undue alarm, panic and stress to others.

"We also urge them to monitor developments through the alerts and bulletins of official government channels," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS