INC in full force in aid, relief plans in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY—The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) didn’t only provide food and medical assistance to their members who were displaced by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

The influential religious bloc is also putting up a housing project as well as a garments factory and an eco-farm to address the housing and livelihood needs of their members.

Amid a downpour, more than 60,000 INC members in Eastern Visayas flocked to Leyte Sports Development Complex (LSDC) here to attend a medical and dental mission for the victims of Yolanda.

At least 150,000 food packs with 3 kilograms of rice, three canned goods and three noodle packs were distributed at the event attended by top INC officials led by its executive minister, Eduardo Manalo.

INC members were ferried in buses starting 7 a.m., causing heavy traffic in the city that prompted schools near LSDC to suspend classes.

Classes were suspended in Leyte National High School, Leyte Colleges, Leyte Normal University and Eastern Visayas State University.

Manalo also led groundbreaking rites for a housing project, dubbed Self-Sustainable Community Rehabilitation Project, on a 3,000-hectare property owned by INC in Sitio New Era, Barangay Langit, in Alangalang town, Leyte province.

At least 1,000 INC members, who lost their homes during Yolanda, would be given houses, said Glicerio Santos Jr., INC general auditor.

The proposed garments factory and eco-farm will serve as livelihood sources for INC members living in the resettlement area.

Santos said the entire project would cost more than P1 billion.