Quake victims feel neglected after ‘Yolanda,’ says bishop

A MAN walks past the ruins of the viewing deck of the Chocolate Hills in Carmen town in Bohol after the killer 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the province in October. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The victims of last year’s powerful earthquake in Bohol province feel they have been forgotten, as attention and aid are now focused to typhoon-ravaged Eastern Visayas.

“We feel forgotten here in Bohol,” said Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso in an article posted on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

He said people displaced by the magnitude-7.2 earthquake last October 15 are still in need of help from the government.

But, he added, the affected residents were recovering and their faith in God has become stronger.

“That means that the earthquake is a means of evangelization for us, very strong,” he said. “We are in the stage of rebuilding. Of course this is the spirit of the people here who were discouraged because of the earthquake.”

Medroso renewed his appeal for aid to rebuild several parish churches damaged by the earthquake.

“To those who have faith and have seen the importance of the churches for our celebration of the Eucharist, we are appealing to you to help us rebuild Bohol again,” he said.

According to him, the restoration of the churches would give more hope to the victims and would spur the province to rise up again “so that… we can also help other people by spreading the Good News.”

Medroso said they have already started rebuilding damaged churches especially those that are considered part of the country’s cultural heritage.

Most of the diocese’s parish churches suffered major damage during the earthquake, including eight heritage churches, three of which were reduced to rubble and impossible to restore.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, in his homily during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Thursday, called on Filipinos “not to forget” to pray for the victims of recent disasters.