A series of strong earthquakes with aftershocks rattled Mindanao in October 2019. The first major earthquake was felt on October 16, 2019 with a magnitude of 6.3 and an epicenter in Tulunan, Cotabato Province. Two weeks after, another strong earthquake struck the same area, this time with a stronger magnitude of 6.6. There were lots of affected areas in the provinces of Cotabato (Tulunan, Makilala, Kidapawan and Malungon) and Davao del Sur (Digos, Magsaysay and Davao City). Help came pouring in for the affected families, as donations from different Local Government Units, business sectors, Non-Government Organizations and generous families all over the country.
To extend their service and care to the affected people in the town of Makilala, Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation-Integrated Development Center (JPIC-IDC) Inc. conducted an emergency relief mission last November 9, 2019. This relief initiative was made possible in collaboration with the Society of the Divine Word Philippine South (SVD-PHS), Verbo San Carlos Foundation, Inc. (VSCFI). The team distributed hygiene kits (toothbrush, body soap, bar & powder detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, sanitary napkin, pail, basin, face towel, bath towel and nail clipper), sleeping kits (blanket, mosquito net and sleeping mat) and water container with cover.
The team coordinated with the Local Government Unit of Makilala to ensure the prioritization of those evacuees that haven’t received sleeping and hygiene kits from previous relief missions. The relief mission of JPIC-IDC Inc. was focused in MIST Camp Site and Greene Academy evacuation centers with a total combined population of 400 families. The rest of the 104 sleeping and hygiene kits were distributed to the affected families coming from different barangays of Makilala (Poblacion, Sto. Nino, Nuevida, Bato, Buenavida and Garsika) by the family members of Bro. Errol Torres SVD. A total of 504 families were reached out. The evacuees and the Local Government Unit of Makilala expressed their heartfelt gratitude and thanked JPIC-IDC, Inc., SVD-PHS, VSCFI that made the relief mission possible.
