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The House of Representatives on Monday night unanimously adopted a resolution expressing its deepest sympathy, solidarity, and support to the people and government of Morocco in the wake of thousands of deaths and widespread devastation caused by a strong earthquake that hit the country last Friday.
House Resolution (HR) 1277 was authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
Citing a report by the United States Geological Survey, Speaker Romualdez and his co-authors of the resolution said the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that shook Morocco last week “was the deadliest since 1960 and the strongest to strike the region since 1900.”
The quake’s epicenter was recorded at 72 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech in the High Atlas mountain range.
The resolution noted the report of the World Health Organization (WHO) placing at more than 300,000 the number of Moroccans affected in Marrakech and surrounding areas, and at over 2,100 the number of people confirmed dead, with 2,421 others injured, 1,400 of them in critical condition.
“Aside from the loss of lives, the earthquake left the region in a terrible state of devastation, destroying historic sites, damaging towns and homes nearest to the Atlas Mountains, blocking roads with debris, rendering remote villages inaccessible and isolated, and forcing residents to spend nights on the streets,” the resolution states.
The authors said the government of Morocco promptly mounted search, rescue, and recovery operations to locate, save, and help survivors, and declared three days of national mourning.
“The international community recognizes that such a grave crisis demands a wide-reaching response and has shown compassion and offered assistance to the people and government of Morocco in the form of search and rescue teams, relief supplies, humanitarian aid, and medical flights,” they said.
Nations need to collaborate, unite, and cooperate to help Moroccans “overcome this severe catastrophe,” they said.
“In solidarity with the international community, the House of Representatives of the Philippines conveys its sorrow and concern to those affected by the recent earthquake in Morocco and hopes for their recovery as they emerge from the ruins of this terrible tragedy,” Speaker Romualdez and his colleagues added.
The House resolved to send a copy of HR 1277 to the embassy of Morocco in Manila.
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