By Charissa Luci-Atienza The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, donated on Monday P6.575-million to financially assist the victims of the Marawi City crisis. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Yedda Romualdez / MANILA BULLETIN) In a brief ceremony, Arroyo, accompanied by Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez, handed over the “giant check” worth P6.075 million and P500,000 cash from the House members’ fund drive to the officials of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI). The turnover ceremony was held at the Speaker’s Social Hall. Receiving the check were CSFI President Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, CSFI Region VIII Representative Martin Romualdez, and other CSFI officials. Rep. Romualdez, chairperson of the House Committee on Accounts, said the lawmakers set aside part of their salaries for the people of Marawi City, citing that the average contribution of every lawmaker was P5,000, while some of her colleagues donated P10,000 to P20,000 each. “The fund drive is a collective effort of all House members in the pursuit of helping distressed fellow Filipinos in Marawi City. This will also give message of hope, love, and faith that the government is doing its best to assist them,” she said. CSFI officer-in-charge Vina Pastor assured that the CSFI would closely coordinate with the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) to ensure the proper utilization of the Lower Chamber’s donation. The fund drive was initiated by the previous House leadership. Pastor noted that former Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez had turned over P4-million to help the clash victims.