'Yolanda' survivors help 'Ruby'-affected families

MANILA, Philippines - Survivors of Super Typhoon "Yolanda" last year have embarked on a mission to help those affected by Typhoon "Ruby" in Catbalogan City in Samar, a Church official said on Tuesday.

The Archdiocese of Palo Rehabilitation Unit (RRU), led by Father Alcris Badana, program director of the RRU, travelled at least four hours by land on Monday to reach the San Bartholomew Parish in Catbalogan City to deliver the relief goods for 1,150 families affected by "Ruby" in the province.

"The spirit of Alay Kapwa is truly alive not only here but also in all of the 85 dioceses nationwide who are helping those who were affected by Typhoon Ruby. While Leyte has been affected as well by this recent typhoon, we make it a point to help also nearby dioceses that are most in need of immediate assistance. This is also our way of paying forward the goodness we have received from everyone who partook in the Yolanda rehabilitation efforts," the prelate said.

Father Bedana added that aside from the distribution of relief goods, the group would also do initial rapid needs assessments on the scope of damage and devastation of the typhoon in the area.

Since April this year, the group has been implementing various rehabilitation efforts in Leyte under the #REACHPhilippines program of NASSA-Caritas Philippines, which is the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

Among their interventions are the provision of shelter, food security and livelihood, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), disaster risk reduction trainings, community organizing and ecosystem recovery.

They are also part of the group currently preparing for the much awaited visit of Pope Francis in Palo, Leyte this January.

To date, the Catholic Church through its social action arm NASSA/Caritas Philippines has already released about P3 million from the local church’s emergency funds "Alay Kapwa" and other local and non-Caritas Internationalis funds for the purchase of relief goods typhoon-hit areas, aside from each dioceses utilizing local funds.

The Alay Kapwa is the Lenten evangelization and fundraising program of the Church to raise consciousness and funds for calamities and major social concerns.

It also recently launched a Solidarity Appeal to the 85 dioceses nationwide to raise funds for the families affected by Typhoon Ruby.