Church, Red Cross, other groups send aid to typhoon victims

Help is on the way.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and other Church officials on Thursday offered their condolences and assistance to victims of Typhoon “Pablo.”

Tagle and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the  Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the Church would mobilize its parishes and resources for the relief effort.

The Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) made an urgent appeal for more than P190 million to assist 10,000 families (50,000 people) in the disaster zone.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) also allocated an initial P4.9 million worth of medicines while the Philippine Medical Association will be sending doctors.

“We have mobilized the medicine industry’s collective corporate social responsibility arm to assess the needs and offer many of the medicines they may require,” said PHAP executive director Reiner W. Gloor.

“On behalf of the entire Archdiocese of Manila, we send our solidarity and condolences. Besides prayers, we promise to do what we can to send you help,” Tagle said in an interview with Radio Veritas.

Tagle said he had ordered all parishes in the archdiocese and Caritas Manila to seek donations for the typhoon victims.

“Our parishes, with Caritas Manila taking the lead, are already working to assure you that you are not alone in this time of need. Strengthen yourselves. The Lord and your brothers and sisters in Christ are with you,” Tagle said.

Palma said he had directed social action centers in Cebu to seek cash donations and urged other bishops to pray and mobilize their charitable institutions to help the victims.

“To our brother bishops, we should be thankful that we were not affected but of course our hearts bleed, especially for the victims of the typhoon. It’s better to give than to receive,” Palma said.

The IFRC said P193,260,402 was needed to help the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) assist 10,000 families.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the typhoon affected over 120,000 people in 13 provinces and around 87,000 were in 162 temporary evacuation centers. With reports from Tina G. Santos, Tarra Quismundo and Mar Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon