Gatchalian-led majority bloc to donate a month’s salary to quake victims

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June 9, 2026 | 3:59pm

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the new Senate majority bloc led by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian vowed to donate one month of their salary to support relief efforts for communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao.

"The Senate New Majority stands with the families and communities in Mindanao who are now facing the painful work of rescue, relief, rebuilding and recovery after the powerful earthquake," the senators said in a joint statement Tuesday, June 9.

"As a personal contribution to the relief effort, members of the Senate New Majority are prepared to donate one month of our salary to help support affected communities," they added.

Hontiveros tagged senators associated with the bloc, including Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who was previously aligned with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's bloc before enabling the formation of the new majority.

Escudero's move helped end the Senate gridlock that led to Gatchalian's election as Senate president pro tempore.

Aid for quake-hit communities

The senators said the donations should follow the needs identified by responders and local communities on the ground, especially in areas where families lack basic supplies and temporary support.

"Our contribution should go to immediate needs such as food, clean water, medicine, temporary shelter and other assistance identified by local communities and responders on the ground," they said.

The group said it would continue coordinating with national and local authorities to monitor the situation, support relief and reconstruction efforts, and assess what other assistance is needed.

"What we hope to give is not only financial assistance, but a clear message that Mindanao is not facing this burden alone," they added.

Bloc to Cayetano: Do the same

The senators also urged their rival bloc led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to donate one month of their salary to quake victims. The Cayetano side has insisted on its legitimacy, arguing that the June 3 leadership shuffle that removed him as Senate president was invalid.

"While this is a small contribution, we hope our colleagues in the Minority will join us in this effort. After all, we are senators of all Filipino people," the majority senators said.

As of Tuesday morning, the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Sarangani had left 37 people dead, more than 400 injured and four missing. Damage was estimated at about P900 million.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, said 1,804 families, or 8,973 individuals, had been displaced by the earthquake.

The agency said P4.23 million worth of humanitarian assistance had been distributed, while P5.3 billion worth of relief resources remained available. — with John Marwin Elao