By Argyll Cyrus Geducos Despite missing the event for the second time, President Duterte turned over financial assistance and family food packs to two Davao del Sur municipalities affected by a magnitude-6.9 earthquake last December 15. Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who visited earthquake victims in Malalag, Davao del Sur on behalf of his father President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, leads the ceremonial distribution of family food packs at the Malalag Cultural and Sports Center on January 3, 2020. Assisting the President's son are Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Luz Ilagan and Senator Christopher "Bong" Go. (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN) According to Malacañang, Duterte handed over a P5-million check to the Malalag municipal government through his son Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who led the ceremonial distribution of family food packs to residents affected by the earthquake. In a speech delivered by the younger Duterte in Malalag, President Durterte expressed his solidarity with the communities for the loss of lives and properties as a result of the disasters that struck the country. "I am deeply saddened by the recent natural calamities that have stricken our nation, particularly the series of strong earthquakes that hit our home of Mindanao," Duterte's message stated. The President likewise assured the public that the government will continue to monitor the situation in the region in the aftermath of the disaster. He said the national government was closely working with local government units to help bring back normalcy in the communities affected by the earthquake. He stressed that it was the government’s moral responsibility to ensure that infrastructures and installations remain safe, livable, and compliant with the highest standards of structural integrity. "Beyond relief operations, I urge our local government units, including private stakeholders and our local communities, to maintain your resilience in times of disasters and emergency situations," Duterte said, expressing optimism that the government would help all affected families to get back on their feet so they may remain hopeful for the new year. Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Duterte, on behalf of the President, also turned over a P2-million check to Padada, Davao del Sur Mayor Pedro Caminero. The money was intended to help Padada rebuild structures damaged by a series of earthquakes that hit the region last month. Aside from the monetary assistance, Vice Mayor Duterte also led the distribution of family food packs to affected families. President Duterte was supposed to lead the distribution of aid to the quake victims on Thursday, but the event was moved to Friday because the President was not feeling well. On Friday evening, it was announced that Duterte decided to skip the events as well because of stomach ache. The President has made the quick rehabilitation of Mindanao’s quake-hit areas a top priority. According to Malacañang. the Duterte government has provided more than P2 million worth of assistance to the affected communities in Padada. Some 81,000 families from over 200 barangays in Southern Mindanao and Soccsksargen were affected by the earthquake. Around 7,800 of these families took shelter in more than 50 evacuation centers in the two regions in Mindanao. Early this week, President Duterte also extended financial and food aid to communities devastated by the earthquake in Cotabato and Digos City.