MANILA — Caritas Manila has given a total of PHP1 million as initial financial aid to five dioceses that will be affected by Typhoon Ompong, which is set to make landfall in northern Luzon on Saturday.
Fr. Anton CT Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila, said a total of PHP200,000 has been donated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Batanes; Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, and the Dioceses of Laoag, Tabuk and Ilagan, to help them prepare before the typhoon hits them during the weekend.
“Cash ang ibibigay natin, nag-pre-position ng mga at least PHP200,000 na minimum ibigay natin sa mga diyosesis dito sa Batanes, Tuguegarao, Ilagan, Laoag, Tabuk, na tatamaan ng pagdaan ng bagyo (We will give them and pre-position at least PHP200,000 to the dioceses of Batanes, Tuguegarao, Ilagan, Laoag, Tabuk that will be hit by the typhoon),” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas on Friday.
“Ito ay para makahanda na sila ng relief operation, medicine, food para mabilis ang pagtugon ng simbahan (This is to let them prepare for relief operation, medicine, food so that the Church could immediately respond),” the priest.
Pascual noted that the Church would want to bring aid to those who will be affected by the storm, estimated to be in 24 to 48 areas.
The head of the social action arm of the Archdiocese of Manila also shared the message of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, whom he said is praying for the safety of the people amid the threat of “Ompong”.
He noted that the Cardinal urges the people to pray for the country to be spared from a destructive storm.
“Bukod sa paghahanda ay hinihikayat din ang bawat isa sa patuloy na manalangin na maipag-adya ang Pilipinas sa mapaminsalang bagyo(Apart from the preparations, we are also calling on each faithful to continue praying that the Philippines would be spared from the destructive storm),” Pascual said. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
