INC holds flood relief operations

MANILA, Philippines—The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Wednesday held simultaneous “Lingap sa Mamamayan” relief operations in at least five provinces and in various parts of Metro Manila most affected by floods caused by monsoon rains.

This is the widest and largest simultaneous disaster relief operations held by the INC in one day, said minister Glicerio B. Santos Jr., INC general auditor.

He said this in response to a directive on Tuesday by the INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo to help those affected by the widespread flooding.

There were eight teams deployed starting Tuesday night. The teams, each led by an INC minister, were sent to Laguna, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan and Cavite, as well as to Marikina, Tondo (Manila) and southern parts of Metro Manila.

Some 43,000 families were given relief packs each consisting of canned goods and four kilos of rice as of 12 noon Wednesday. Medicines for cough, colds and fever were also distributed, as well as prophylaxis for leptospirosis.

Doctors, nurses and paramedics also participated in the relief operations to help distribute medicines, said Dr. Sergie Santos, one of the organizers of the Lingap sa Mamamayan.—Donna Cueto-Ybanez, Contributor