MANILA, Nov. 11, 2014—Caritas Manila, the Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM)’s leading social services and development arm, released in-cash and in-kind donations amounting to P268.3 million following typhoon Yolanda.
Caritas Manila initially released PhP 140 million worth of cash and in-kind donations to those affected by the disaster, a report from Church-run Radyo Veritas shares.
Soon after the calamity, Caritas Manila responded with “manna” emergency relief bags with five kilos of rice, assorted canned goods, noodles, biscuits, coffee, and sugar for 132,837 families.Most of the affected families were from Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Cebu, Masbate, and Palawan.
Non-food items distributed through the devastated areas’ dioceses included hygiene packs, assorted medicines, mosquito nets, blankets, tools (chainsaw), tarpaulins, slippers, solar lamp, water filters, among others.
Emergency cash assistance, initially at PhP 6.8 million, was also given to families with sick and disabled members needing immediate medical attention.
As part of its recovery and rehabilitation, Caritas Manila rolled out some P18 million for livelihood projects, shelter assistance, chapel, and convent reconstruction in of Palo, Leyte, and Borongan, Eastern Samar.
The funds were also used for the following:
- 15 chapel constructions and for the repair of one parish rectory in Calbayog, Samar;
- ten motorized and 11 non-motorized fishing boats in Salcedo, Eastern Samar;
- 71 motorized fishing boats in San Dionisio, Iloilo;
- 60 shelter assistance initiatives in San Carlos, Negros Occidental.
These projects helped displaced families in their struggle to return to normal life.
Moreover, P32.212 million was used for vocational/college scholarships for poor students, with an additional 967 YSLEP (Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program) scholars from Leyte, Samar, and Palawan.
Some 2,000 farmer-beneficiaries in Eastern Samar received various farm tools and implements.(Raymond A. Sebastián)