Quake victims begging along highway

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

MAKILALA, North Cotabato — People displaced by the recent series of strong earthquakes and aftershocks here were on the roadside begging motorists for food and water on Friday.

The quake victims held placards and displayed tarpaulin sheets written with “water” and “food” in the vernacular on Friday.

Vehicles stopped and distributed bottled water, food and other relief goods to the quake victims who stay 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.