The Marikina city government yesterday donated 100 modular tents to Cotabato City to serve as temporary shelter for families affected by the series of earthquakes that rocked Mindanao last week.

Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro ordered his staff to prepare the tents for shipment to Cotabato City.

“After learning of what happened in Cotabato, I ordered my staff to prepare 100 of our tents to give to Cotabato. What happened to them was very unfortunate, so we are extending our help to the people of Cotabato,” Teodoro said during the turnover ceremony of ambulances to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) at City Hall on Friday.

“The 100 tents will be shipped on Saturday to Cotabato, so that affected families can use them to give themselves privacy while staying at designated evacuation sites,” he added.

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocked Cotabato and neighboring areas on Thursday morning, damaging buildings and sending terrified locals into the streets as the region reeled from two other powerful tremblors in October.

Marikina’s modular tents earned praises when it was first introduced in 2018 for use by victims of flooding. These are handled by Marikina Rescue 161.

Measuring 3×3, the tents can house at least seven people. Its sides are closed for privacy, while the top is open to allow airflow.

Meanwhile, the city donated two ambulances to BFP-Marikina.

Teodoro handed the keys of the ambulances to BFP-National Capital Region for Operations Supt. Robert Samillano and BFP-Marikina fire marshal Supt. Jose Edgar Callos.

In his speech, the mayor lauded the bureau for its quick response to fire incidents in Marikina and other Metro Manila cities.

The BFP expressed its gratitude for the donation, saying it will add to the 16 existing ambulances in the National Capital Region.