Intensified programs to combat poverty and assist struggling communities in the country will be the top priorities of Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) outreach programs in 2016, according to a senior church official.
INC general auditor Glicerio Santos Jr., in a statement, said that executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo had directed church officials to expand INC’s antipoverty projects, particularly Lingap sa Mamamayan program under the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation.
Santos said that under Manalo’s leadership, “much emphasis has been placed on the Church’s outreach and sociocivic activities, which seek to benefit not just INC members, but also less fortunate communities around the country who need help.”
Santos said two Lingap sa Mamamayan activities have already been scheduled to start in 2016, with the first to be held at Culiat Muslim compound on Jan. 2, and the second at Taguig City’s Muslim community on Jan. 9.
The Jan. 2 project is an annual activity held to commemorate the birthday of late INC executive minister Eraño Manalo, a tradition now being continued by his son Eduardo. The activity involves free medical and dental services, and the distribution of basic goods.
Immediately following these two activities is the launching of a new ecofarming site in Cotabato, which is expected to provide livelihood for 8,400 members of the lumad and B’laan communities.
“These projects are being undertaken consistent with our belief that God has given us the responsibility to reach out and take care of our fellow man, especially those in need,” said Santos.
“As long as we have countrymen who grapple with poverty, INC will continue to do what it can to provide means to help uplift their welfare. Our goal is not just to help the needy—it is to help them help themselves,” he added.
According to Santos, the new ecofarming site in Cotabato has an area of 16,000 hectares. Plantations that will produce bananas, corn, rice and coffee would be put up to provide jobs for members of the two indigenous communities.
The INC will also provide a mini water reservoir, farm equipment, farm input, land tilling tools and vehicles for the use in the farms.
Aside from these, 3,000 houses will be put up for the use of the lumad and B’laan families.