FAITH-BASED organizations (FBOs) in the country gathered to reflect on their contributions to humanitarian response and discussed avenues for collaboration and improve their current response to the Marawi City crisis.
In a forum called “Transforming Faith into Action”, representatives from the National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa)/Caritas Philippines, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, the Philippine Council of Ecumenical Churches and World Vision together with more than 30 other organizations discussed ways on how they could collaborate on humanitarian work.
They also discussed ways to improve the current response to the Marawi crisis “by putting people at the center”, especially following the testimony of an evacuee.
FBOs are humanitarian relief and development organizations formed by or with direct or indirect relationship to a specific faith community.
Nassa/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez pointed out the strengths of the FBOs, which can be maximized for a more effective and efficient humanitarian response.
These strengths, Gariguez said, include the FBOs’ sustained presence, inherent link to disaster-affected communities with volunteers coming from affected communities, innate knowledge on the social landscape and culture and existing infrastructures, like churches, which serve as evacuation centers.
“With our grassroots network extending from global, regional, national and local community levels, we are well placed to offer a unique contribution in response to the needs of our people affected by disasters,” Gariguez added.
He said the FBOs’ widespread and extensive networks across the country make them first responders during emergencies.
“In fact, FBOs are already there before and during the conflict and disasters. And when the international organizations have left the area, the volunteers from faith-based groups remain,” he added.
Gariguez also cited the strong link between faith and disaster-risk reduction, a fact observed by international humanitarian organizations, particularly to those affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda.
The forum also became a venue for the FBOs to collaborate and discuss the challenges in humanitarian response, such as the fear of using aid to push religious agenda.
“We must always remind ourselves we are driven by our desire to give value to human life rather than to convert them to our faiths. Our humanitarian work is driven by our common humanity,” Gariguez said.
FBOs also explored other possible areas for collaboration, such as advocacy work on climate change and other social and economic injustices.
Nassa/Caritas Philippines is the humanitarian, development and advocacy arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.