MANILA, August 10, 2012?The National Secretariat of Social Action, Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has released P850,000 for dioceses affected by typhoon “Gener” and heavy monsoon rains that caused massive flooding in the metropolis and nearby regions.
Fr. Edu Gariguez, NASSA executive secretary on Friday said checks amounting to P250,000 was sent to the Archdiocese of San Fernando (Pampanga); P250,00 to the Diocese of Antipolo; P150,000 to the Diocese of Iba (Zambales); P100,000 to the Diocese of Alaminos and P100,000 to San Pablo (Laguna); for their relief operations.
“The fund was sourced from the Alay Kapwa 2012 fund campaign’s P2,384,718.62 collection,” Gariguez said, adding that the amount serves as initial fund support for the emergency relief of the priority dioceses.
In a related development, NASSA chairman and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, appealed to his fellow bishops to help them fund the emergency response.
He said the Alay Kapwa fund they are now using is small and very insufficient to respond to the calamity of such magnitude.
“We have received reports from the Diocese of Iba that a total of 2,701 families were affected and another 200 families from the Diocese of Alaminos,” the bishop said.
In the Archdiocese of San Fernando, 160 barangays in 11 towns have been submerged in flood waters.
The Diocese of Balanga in Bataan province some 175 barangays are underwater while the Diocese of Malolos in Bulacan has 121 barangays affected by floods.
The Diocese of Antipolo has 25,000 evacuees, all of whom are from Marikina City.
Pabillo said donations for NASSA may be deposited with the Bank of Philippine Islands under the account name CBCP Caritas Filipinas Foundation, Inc..with account number 4951000781-08. (Melo M. Acuna)
