Tag Archives: philippines

Excessive rains forced officials to release water from dams. Overflowing rivers are now flooding almost the entire province of Pangasinan, according to initial reports.

Debbie DeVoe, CRS Regional Information Officer, sends in a field report from the Philippines.

CRS’ Director of Emergency Operations Pat Johns and I joined Sister Rosanne Mallillin of Caritas Philippines on a visit this morning to assess the widespread damage in Pangasinan province, one of two provinces currently experiencing extensive flooding and landslides. CRS is a Caritas member from the USA.
Continue reading →

In some fields in the Philippines, more than two feet of water still remains.

This past Saturday, a second typhoon hit the northern part of the Philippines. Fortunately the impact was not nearly as devastating as that of the earlier Typhoon Ketsana on the greater Manila area. Typhoon Parma is still hovering over the region, however, causing concern that it will hit the north again—and perhaps harder.

Today, Catholic Relief Services (a Caritas member in the US) staff visited the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao to tour some of the areas most affected by Typhoon Parma with Caritas Philippines (known locally as Nassa).

Fr. Manuel Catral, the archdiocese’s social action director, told us that he began contacting parish priests as soon as the storm subsided. A dozen dioceses have reported damage, with hundreds of houses destroyed and many more in need of repair. Diocesan staff provided food to people in immediate need and are now exploring opportunities to help families in the area repair or rebuild their homes.
Continue reading →

Students at Saint Paul University in Manila pack thousands of items to deliver to flood victims after Typhoon Ketsana. Now they await Typhoon Parma.

Caritas and the people of the Philippines are bracing for Tropical Storm Parma, which is expected to hit the country today. Over four million people live in the path of the severe storm. The Philippines was hit less than a week ago by Typhoon Ketsana, which caused some of the worst destruction in decades. Currently Parma is a stronger storm.

At the Aid Center of the Diocese of Antipolo, CRS workers load up food and other items being distributed by Caritas.

By Laura Sheahen, Catholic Relief Service (A Caritas Internationalis member)

Tropical storm Ketsana (local name: Ondoy) struck Manila and surrounding areas on Saturday, Sept. 26. The massive flooding that resulted killed over 200 people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Most returned to find their belongings destroyed.

Caritas Philippines (NASSA) began ministering to flood victims immediately. Caritas gave victims bottled water and food like noodles, crackers, canned sardines, and rice.

Local Catholic dioceses partnered with NASSA and also provided used clothing. Hundreds of volunteers–often Catholic teens and college students–helped pack the items. NASSA will also distribute medicine and non-food items like cookware, hygiene kits, underwear, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, and more.

Caritas Philippines (NASSA) has launched a national appeal for the flood victims of Tropical Storm Ketsana. The diocesan Caritas  are responding throughout the country. We spoke with Fr Anton Pascal, Executive Director of Caritas Manila, earlier this morning.

There has been extensive damage to lives and properties affecting 10 million people in Metro Manila in the Philippines. Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally called “Ondoy”) dropped a month’s worth of rain on Manila in just 12 hours Saturday. The disaster was the worst the capital had experienced in nearly half a century.

So far we’re still in the rescue and relief phase. All sectors of the country are working together, including the Catholic Church through Caritas. The weather, although better, is still raining. There is still no electricity in many areas and heavy flooding making it very difficult to rescue people from their homes and to retrieve dead bodies from the flood waters.
Continue reading →

Catholic News Service reported that Pope Benedict XVI offered his prayers for the peoples of the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Japan facing the death and destruction of recent typhoons and earthquakes.

“I want to demonstrate my spiritual closeness to all those who find themselves in situations of serious difficulty and I ask everyone to pray for them and for those who lost their lives,” the pope said Aug. 12 at the end of his weekly general audience.

“I hope the relief of solidarity and the help of material aid will not be lacking,” he told pilgrims gathered in the courtyard of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo.