Yes! Php 1 Billion worth of aid was distributed by Caritas Manila to poor families affected by community quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Caritas Manila’s Oplan Damayan distributed the gift certificates to indigent urban families living in the National Capital Region and other surrounding provinces.
Caritas Manila Executive Director Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual announced during the Radyo Veritas and Caritas Manila Alay-Kapwa Telethon the release Php 1.07 billion worth of gift certificates to 633 parishes in the Dioceses of Cubao, Parañaque, Kalookan, Novaliches, Antipolo (Rizal), San Pablo (Laguna), Malolos (Bulacan), Pasig, and the Archdiocese of Manila.
According to Fr. Pascual, their continuous monitoring of the relief operations yielded a record of more than 813,557 urban families (with an estimated 4,069, 285 individual family members) that were helped by the Caritas Manila’s Oplan Damayan.
The gift certificates were donated by Oplan Ugnayan, a group of businessmen, headed by Jaime Zobel de Ayala, who came together to help bring financial aid, to poor people who are the most affected by COVID-19.
Caritas Manila together with different organizations conducted a smooth, organized, fast, and efficient distribution of the gift certificates while at the same time keeping the social distancing guidelines of the community quarantine.
The organization tapped the parishes of different dioceses to implement the distribution. It also coordinated with the local barangays to help facilitate the on-ground distribution and identify poor families in their respective jurisdictions.
Aside from the grocery vouchers, Caritas Manila has also been distributing “Covid safety kits” and “Manna” food packs to poor families.
Caritas’ “Covid-19 safety kit” includes alcohol, face masks, antibacterial liquid soap, Vitamin C, reusable gloves, liquid bleach, cleaning cloth, among others.
Aside from the kit, the relief agency is also providing poor families with food bags to poor families affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.
Fr. Pascual assured the public that Caritas Manila, with the help of different church networks, will intensify the distribution of Manna gift packs, LIGTAS COVID kits, and gift certificates to families affected by COVID-19 in the coming days as the enhanced community quarantine is extended until the end of April 2020.
Here is the summary of Caritas Manila’s aid distribution operation:
NO. Of Arch/ Dioceses: 10
NO. Of Parishes Participating: 633
NO. Of GCs released 1, 078, 212, 500
NO. Of families targeted 1, 078, 213
NO. OF ACTUAL POOR FAMILIES GCs RECEIVED: 813, 557 ( 81%)
NO. OF FAMILY MEMBERS BENEFITED: 4, 069, 285
Breakdown:
1. Archdiocese of Manila
309,912,500 GCs distributed to Parishes
300, 564 GCs received by poor families
2. Diocese of Caloocan
197, 500,000 GCs distributed to parishes
117, 894 GCs received ng poor families
3. Diocese of Novaliches
109, 300,000 GCs distributed to parishes
109, 154 GCs received received by poor families
4. Diocese of Imus
88, 100, 000 GCs distributed to parishes
76, 110 GCs received by poor families
5. Diocese of Antipolo
85, 400,000 GCs distributed to parishes
85, 164 GCs received by poor families
6. Diocese of Parañaque
77, 000,000 GCs distributed by parishes
19,600 GCs received by poor families
7. Diocese of Cubao
66,000,000 GCs received by parishes
25,001 GC received by poor families
8. Diocese of Pasig
60,000,000 GCs distributed by parishes
30, 565 GCs received by poor families
9. Diocese of San Pablo
50,000,000 GCs distributed by parishes
31,400 GCs received by poor families
10. Diocese of Malolos
35, 000,000 GCs distributed by parishes
18, 405 GCs received by poor families
The Catholic Church continues with its spiritual mission of ministering to the soul of the faithful with online masses and online prayer requests.
Filipino Cardinal Chito Tagle had also released his reflections while himself under lockdown in Italy where he has been posted as the new Vatican official for evangelization.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to Caritas Manila and Oplan Ugnayan businesses for providing for the poor families affected by the ongoing public health emergency.
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