The House plenary. (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The Speaker Martin Romualdez-led House of Representatives has adopted a resolution expressing its deepest sympathy, solidarity, and support to the people and government of Morocco, which was recently struck by a deadly earthquake. 

Adopted via simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes) during plenary session Monday, Sept. 11 was House Resolution (HR) No. 1277. 

Citing a report by the United States Geological Survey, Romualdez, an author 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". 

“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 read. 

The quake’s epicenter was recorded at 72 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech in the High Atlas mountain range. 

The resolution cited a World Health Organization (WHO) report placing at more than 300,000 the number of Moroccans affected in Marrakech and surrounding areas. Over 2,100 people have been confirmed dead, with 2,421 others injured. 

“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,” Romualdez and his co-authors added. 

The 311-member House will send a copy of HR No.1277 to the embassy of Morocco in Manila. 

Also authoring the measure aside from Romualdez were Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe, Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos, and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.