CBCP Mounts Relief Aid for Ondoy Victims

MANILA, Oct. 2, 2009-The social action arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) plans a massive increase in its relief aid program, with an initial allocation now reaching to around P30 million.

National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa) executive secretary Sr. Roseanne Mallillin announced the decision in a press conference Friday due to increasing number of families ravaged by typhoon Ondoy.

She said the pouring donations from its international partners also helped boost their relief drive for families who lost properties and livelihood from the wrath of the strong storm.

Sr. Mallillin said Nassa is currently working on distributing sustainable relief packages to an initial 10,000 families that can help them start afresh after the onslaught of disaster.

"These are items that will sustain them for a month or so, unlike other simple relief efforts where they are given limited portions of rice and canned goods that will last them for only days," she said.

Among those included in the packages are kitchenwares, family size mat, blanket and mosquito net, canned goods, two big towels, underwear, slippers, toiletries, plates, cups and saucers, and utensils, laundry detergents, and most importantly-one sack of rice.

Each package, she said, has over P2,000 worth of goods.

The church official said that the recipients are chosen by social action directors (SADs) from at least five hardest-hit dioceses-Malolos, Pasig, Antipolo, Laguna and Pampanga, after applicants submit socio economic profiles to their parishes.

Only those who fall under the criteria-least attended and most in need will be included in the list of beneficiaries, she said.

But Sr. Mallillin said those who are not included in the will still be served by their churches through the provision of food packs which contain six cans of sardines, 10 packs of noodles, 1 dozen instant coffee sachets, one big box of milk and one pack of crackers.

Their initial distribution also included five kilos of rice per family after Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap released 40 sacks of rice last Sunday for relief efforts.

Sr. Mallillin added that the church structure from the parish to the diocesan level is very advantageous, especially in times of disaster relief efforts since this ensure an organized process of distribution.

She said that having their SADs and priests in place also help their efforts because they personally know the people in the area and are capable of identifying who are those who are really in need.

With these measures in place, they are given an opportunity to widen the range of their coverage, even to areas not reached by other non-government organizations.

Among those who helped in the church's relief efforts is the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which donated $250,000.

CRS representative Luc Picard, and regional information officer Laura Sheahen, pledged to help in the early recovery and planned rehabilitation drive after witnessing the devastation left by the typhoon in the country. (CBCPNews)