Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David has called on dioceses around the country to support the Alay Kapwa Solidarity Appeal of NASSA/Caritas Philippines to help those who were affected by typhoon “Paeng.”
“On behalf of the CBCP, I am endorsing the letter of Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace (ECSA-JP) chairman and Fr. Antonio E. Labiao, Jr., executive secretary of ECSA-JP, for Alay Kapwa Solidarity Appeal to assist the affected dioceses and families devastated by typhoon Paeng,” read part of Bishop David’s letter.
According to reports by the Diocesan Social Action Centers, typhoon Paeng caused major damages in areas under the jurisdiction of the Archdioceses of Cotabato, Caceres, and Capiz; and in the Dioceses of San Carlos, Boac, San Pablo, Antique, Kalibo, Gumaca, and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said more than five million Filipinos were affected by the weather disturbance including more than 53,000 families who lost their homes.
Caritas Philippines has so far received around P4 million in donations and has assisted almost 20,000 families in ten affected dioceses. Caritas Manila and Radio Veritas earlier conducted the Caritas Damayan Typhoon Paeng Telethon and were able to raise P8 million for the calamity survivors.
“The vastness of damages to properties and lives indicates that we need more resources to help the rebuilding process, and to immediately respond to urgent needs,” said Caritas Philippines.