The people of Davao City would help quake-affected areas through food packs and other relief items soonest.

Mayor Duterte surveys Mindanao disaster areas on a big bike.

It is during times of crisis that Filipino unity or what is known as the bayanihan spirit of helping each other out shines bright.

People displaced by the recent series of major quakes and aftershocks in Mindanao trooped to the highway asking for water, food, and tarpaulin sheets from motorists.

They listed their immediate needs on a white recycled tarp and displayed it beside the highway for motorists to see.

Motorists, some on board luxury vehicles, responded. They stopped and distributed bottled water and other food supplies to quake victims who stayed by the roadside in tents at night.

Speaking for the provincial crisis management team, provincial board member Jumar Cerebo, however, appealed to good Samaritans to course their assistance through local government units and not to distribute the aid on their own to avoid being mobbed by quake victims.

“Motorists who distributed bottled water to quake victims in front of a school were mobbed by unruly and thirsty residents. It was good that nobody was hurt,” he said.

But some motorists who bought bread, biscuits and dry goods in other towns continued to give aid to quake victims queuing up beside the highway.

“I pity them. It’s better to help than receive something,” one motorist driving a Toyota Fortuner said in a brief interview after distributing foodstuff to some 50 people.

Eugene Villamor, 30, a quake victim, posted on social media that the people were glad that good Samaritans were coming over to help them.

“Your generosity will return to you,” he said.

The quake victims do not have to wait long as help is on the way. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, riding a big bike, visited quake-affected areas in North Cotabato, extended aid and vowed to send more.

Mayor Duterte, more known as “Inday Sara,” received updates from local government executives and met with displaced families.

She spoke with M’lang Mayor Russel Abonado and Vice Mayor Lito Pinol in front of the town hall at around noon and handed over cash assistance from the people of Bohol.

“The people of Davao City would help M’lang and other quake-affected areas through food packs and other relief items soonest,” Mayor Duterte told Abonado and Pinol during the short program.

Abonado lauded the Davao mayor for coming over to express sympathy to the people of M’lang.

Duterte earlier visited Tulunan and spoke with Mayor Reuel Pip Limbungan and the displaced families and vowed to send aid.

After M’lang, she proceeded to Kidapawan City where she witnessed the partly collapsed Eva’s Hotel and met with local officials before proceeding to Makilala.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier scheduled to visit quake-affected areas prior his trip to Thailand for the ASEAN Summit.

The number of fatalities has risen to 17, according to the latest situational report released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Of the said number of deaths, three were listed in Region 11 while 14 were recorded in Region 12.

Authorities have identified those killed as the following: Davao del Sur, Jessie Riel Parba (previously reported as Jesriel Pabra), Benita B. Saban, Romulo Naraga; South Cotabato, Nestor Narciso, Marcelo Tare; Cotabato, Samuel Linao Andy (previously reported as Angel Andy), Renee Corpuz (previously reported as Rene Boy Andy), Marichelle Morla, Patricio Lumayon, Pao Zailon Abdulah, Isidro Gomez, Cesar Benjie Bangot (previously reported as Cesar Bangot), Romel Galicia, Priscilla Varona (previously reported as Precilla Verona), Juve Gabriel Jaoud (previously reported as Juve Gabriel Jauod), Tessie Alacayde (previously reported as Tessie Alcayde); and Sultan Kudarat, Lito Peles Mino.

The number of individuals injured from the earthquakes, meanwhile, was reduced to 307 from the previously reported 403, while the number of missing persons remain at two, per the NDRRMC.

Members of the Philippine Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade in Naga have been deployed to help in the distribution of relief goods to those affected by the series of earthquakes in Mindanao.

According to the 901st ID’s Capt. Joash Pramis, the command is now under full alert status along with other concerned government agencies following the tremblors.

They are also helping in the monitoring of major roads damaged by the recent jolts, as well as buildings and infrastructure already confirmed to have sustained structural damage.

Pramis also appealed to the public to offer prayers for Mindanao and those deeply affected by the calamity.

Sen. Richard Gordon has asked the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) for information regarding the seismic status of Mindanao in light of the series of earthquakes.

In a letter to Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr., Gordon said the consecutive earthquakes in Mindanao gave the Philippine Red Cross, which he chairs, “a cause to inform and prepare the public on the actual current situation.”

Gordon has asked Phivolcs for information specifically on the updated seismic status of Mindanao, as well as the current fault reading and other pertinent information, which may be used to ensure the safety of the public.

He also sought historical data on earthquakes that occurred in those areas for the past five years and the seismic map of Mindanao and the Philippines.

Gordon said with Phivolcs’ support, “The Philippine Red Cross will be more effective in extending help to the most vulnerable Filipinos.”

The province of Cotabato suffered from three succeeding earthquakes last October.

The first major earthquake, which was recorded at magnitude 6.3, happened on 16 October.

The second earthquake struck Cotabato last 31 October, with magnitude 6.6, and just two days after, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck the same area.