The provincial government of Bohol through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is asking for donations for quake-hit residents in Mindanao which has been battered by a series of strong earthquakes.

Donations will be directed to hard-hit localities including three towns pinpointed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte—Tulunan and Makilala towns in Cotabato and Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur, said PDRRMO chief Anthony Damalerio.

Duterte personally relayed the information to Governor Arthur Yap who flew to Davao City on Thursday afternoon, just hours after the strong quake jolted the city and neighboring areas, to extend aid to the victims including Boholanos who were also affected by the tremor.

“Daghan tang mga igsuong Bol-anon didto sa [Mindanao] pero sa panahon sa trahedya dili man ni taga Bohol ka or taga Davao or taga Mindanao basta kita, atong ipakita ang atong tinuod na pagka-Bol-anon pinaagi sa pagtabang,” Damalerio said.

According to Damalerio, local government officials in the affected areas have asked for blankets, food, water, medicine and milk for children and infants.

The provincial government is accepting donations at the PDRRMO command center inside Camp Esteban Bernido in Tagbilaran City.

Donations may also be relayed through the Bohol Chronicle Radio Corp. office in the city and through Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices across the province for those in the towns.

“Kita sa provincial level maoy mo kuha didto sa mga kalungsuran. Para ma-usa ni og hatod nikigsabot na ta og Philippine Coast Guard vessel na mo hatod ani via Cagayan,” he said.

Meanwhile, around 12 highly trained emergency responders of the TaRSIER (Telephone and Radio System Integrated Emergency Response) 117 will be deployed to Mindanao to aid in the rescue and relief operations in the region.

“Si Governor Yap ni-signify na didto kang Mayor Sara na ang personnel sa atong TaRSIER 117 atong e-deploy. Ga-organize na ta og team, the soonest ma-deploy is mga two days,” said Damalerio.

In a span of 15 days, three strong earthquakes have hit Mindanao particularly Cotabato on October 16, 29 and 31.

The series of temblors have toppled buildings, damaged scores of other structures and displaced an estimated 8,000 residents.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology projected that aftershocks may continue to hit the province and nearby areas until the holiday season in December. (R. Tutas)