Caritas Manila, in partnership with Radio Veritas 846, will hold Damay Kapanalig Marawi Telethon on Wednesday, November 8, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help in the recovery of families in Mindanao affected by the recent crisis in Marawi.
As of September 30, according to the Marawi crisis report of Caritas Manila, through the Damayan Program, it was able to send P1,000,000 in cash, 100 cavans of rice worth P275,000 and assorted relief assistance worth P735,082.50 as help to the residents affected by the crisis in Marawi City.
During the first three months of the war, relief assistance is being mobilized by all civil-society organizations, private sectors, non-
governmental organizations, Church institutions and local government units inside and outside the evacuation centers.
The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the Diocese of Iligan helped to address the immediate needs of the families from food, shelter, hygiene, water and clothing.
Based on the data by the Diocese of Iligan, Caritas Damayan also
distributed school bags filled with eight notebooks, one pad paper according to grade, one ballpen, one pencil, one box of crayons, one plastic envelope, one ruler and one pair of scissors. This was given to 73 schools in Iligan, which housed 5,132 displaced learners (DLs) and 117 schools in Lanao del Norte, which held 5,747 DLs. Currently, Caritas Manila, together with the Missionaries of Jesus, is mainstreaming psychosocial and relief support through its “Damay Marawi” program.
Damay Marawi aims to develop communities toward wellness and livelihood. This project provides psychosocial support through trainings and materials development for peace education, which will be integrated in the Catechetical Ministry for Iligan and in the school curriculum for the municipalities of Lanao del Sur.
Multilevel interventions will also be provided for more than 300 families in Lanao del Sur. Relief aid, such as food and nonfood items, psychosocial support-capacity building, training and materials development are designated for pastoral workers, including the faculty of the Catholic schools wherein almost 90 percent of their students are Muslims, with focus on peace education. Livelihood, child-friendly spaces, temporary shelters and wash (water, sanitation and hygiene) facilities are also to be addressed together with the community. Medical missions are also being continuously sponsored by Caritas, as well as livelihood programs.
There are still areas that need our support for their full recovery. As Christmas is approaching, let us all spend this season in charity and volunteerism. Let us all not forget how the Holy Family sought help. Let us all be instruments of God’s mercy as shepherds to our brothers and sisters who are in need.
As of this writing, Internally Displaced Persons in Malabang, Marawi, are in need of food relief, hygiene kits—to include anti-itch ointment for skin rashes of children, solar lamps to address the electricity shortage in the entire town, water filters for potable source of drinking water, diapers for infants, napkins for women, uniforms and school supplies for children, wooden makeshift beds (may be made of bamboo or thin plywood) and tarpaulin or galvanized iron sheets to fix the leaks on the roof of
the evacuation centers.
Caritas Damayan is one of the programs of Caritas Manila. Through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program, Caritas Manila has put in place a disaster-management program that allows for quick response-relief operation and effective crisis intervention.
Listeners can participate and donate in the telethon by calling 925-7931 to 39, 563-9311 or 562-0020 to 25. Phone lines will be open throughout the live broadcast on Radio Veritas 846 and also via live streaming at www.veritas846.ph.
Donations can be made online via https://ushare.unionbankph.com/caritas/ or by bank deposit:
- Banco De Oro—Savings Account No.: 5600-45905
- Bank of the Philippine Islands—Savings Account No.: 3063-5357-01
- Metrobank – Savings Account No.: 175-3-17506954-3
For dollar accounts:
- Bank of the Philippine Islands—Savings Account No. 3064-0033-55
- Swift Code – BOPIPHMM
- Philippine National Bank—Savings Account No. 10-856-660002-5
- Swift Code—PNBMPHMM
To know more about Caritas Manila, visit www.caritasmanila.org.ph or call our DonorCare lines at 563-9311, 564-0205, 0999-7943455, 0905-4285001 or 0929-8343857.