MANILA (UCAN): Caritas Philippines is working with the Coca-Cola Foundation to provide aid to survivors of Super Typhoon Rai [Odette].
Both organisations said on March 25 that they have been working to provide housing and other material aid to victims in Negros Occidental province in the central part of the country. The province was one of the hardest-hit areas when the typhoon struck in December, causing at least US$100 million [$781 million] worth of damage in the agricultural sector.
Some 38 people were killed in the province out of a nation al total of at least 375 fatalities, while more than 20,000 households were left homeless.
The partnership between Caritas Philippines and the Coca-Cola Foundation is helping residents repair their homes, particularly in villages with no electricity.
“Caritas Philippines and the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines … recently distributed aid to Typhoon Rai victims still living in makeshift shelters,” Caritas Philippines said in a March 25 Facebook post.
Caritas said that the partnership was able to help 28,000 families in the Diocese of Kabankalan. Building materials provided included metal roofing, plywood sheets, umbrella nails, solar lamps and a radio.
The partnership is important to me both as an employee of the corporation and a Catholic, because here I see the close relationship between the Catholic Church and the private sector
Cecilia Alcantara
Cecilia Alcantara, president of Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, said the corporation’s partnership with Caritas could be a model for corporations and the Church to work hand in hand in helping the poor.
“The partnership is important to me both as an employee of the corporation and a Catholic, because here I see the close relationship between the Catholic Church and the private sector,” Alcantara told Radio Veritas.
Alcantara also encouraged other private companies to help the Catholic Church, especially in financing humanitarian.
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“Private institutions may have the resources, and the Church knows where [they] should go,” she added. “Because we have trust in the Church, we know that the help that we give will be used right and correctly.”
Bishop Louie Galbines of Kabankalan said more than 30,000 people have received aid so far, although many still do not have electricity and decent housing.
“Many of our parishioners are still feeling the wrath of the typhoon after how many months. They could not repair their homes. They don’t have jobs to finance the repair work,” the bishop told Radio Veritas.
He said rehabilitation programmes for farmers were not only based on handouts but on strategic planning and responsibility.
“It should be done in a systematic way,” he said.
Many of our parishioners are still feeling the wrath of the typhoon after how many months. They could not repair their homes. They don’t have jobs to finance the repair work
Father Leo Jasmin
Meanwhile Philippine authorities have appealed to the Catholic Church for help in accommodating people evacuated due to the eruption of the Taal volcano in Batangas province, south of Manila. The volcano has been spewing ashes since March 26, leading to the forced evacuation of hundreds of families in the affected area.
“We cannot do this alone. We are asking our parish priests to please help us if possible in accommodating our displaced brothers and sisters in faith by allowing them to stay in your churches or empty spaces,” said Tagaytay police spokesperson, Lieutenant Jeffrey Geruner.
Twenty government-run evacuation centres are now full and Catholic churches are being asked to accommodate affected families, he told reporters on March 29.
Caritas Philippines has begun distributing groceries and food packs at the evacuation centres in Batangas province.
“We have given donations to more than 2,000 individuals but this is just half of the total number. We are still going to distribute food packs to those living in government schools,” Father Leo Jasmin from said.
“I am appealing to your generosity to help our brothers and sisters in need. They need water and food, especially the elderly and children,” he added.
As of March 29, a total of 4,143 individuals belonging to 1,228 families from four villages had taken shelter at basketball courts and government-owned schools, according to the Philippine police.
“A total of eight villages were affected by the eruption. Many of them are fishermen and farmers living within the danger zone because they had nowhere to go,” Geruner said.
