MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called on priests to initiate a second collection during mass starting this weekend as part of the Catholic Church’s drive to raise funds for residents displaced by the Taal Volcano explosion last Sunday.
A circular signed by Fr. Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Manila, stated that a second collection be taken at all masses from the evening of Saturday and the whole day of Sunday.
Malicdem urged the priests to remit the collections to the accounting department of the Arzobispado de Manila on or before Jan. 22, 2020.
“We encourage that intention that the eruptions may end and that all may be safe be included in the Prayer of the Faithful of all our masses,” Malicdem said in the letter dated Jan. 13.
In another development, the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Center (LASAC) is calling for people who want to lend their time as volunteers to join in its crash course on Psychological First-Aid (PFA).
The LASAC said the crash course will help debrief “stressed brethren” affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano that sent ash and debris as far as Metro Manila.
Interested volunteers may drop by the headquarters of LASAC along St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary, Marawoy, Lipa City.
Archbishop Romulo Valles, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, has also called on people to respond to the other needs of residents affected by the eruption of Taal.
“Another form of solidarity is to respond to other needs, such as medical care and attention to those in evacuation centers,” Valles said in an article posted over the CBCP website.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, however, warned the public to beware of scammers who are using his name and that of other bishops to solicit supposed donations for volcano victims.
Vice President Leni Robredo visited yesterday residents displaced by the restive Taal Volcano in the towns of Sta. Teresita, San Jose and Sto. Tomas in Batangas.
Robredo distributed food packs consisting of rice, canned goods and noodles, as well as face masks to evacuees.
The relief goods were donated by the Office of the Vice President’s Angat Buhay partners.
Prior to visiting the evacuation centers, the Vice President received a briefing from Brig. Gen. Marceliano Teofilo, assistant division commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division and head of Task Force Taal.
Robredo advised affected residents to take safety precautions given the effects of the ashfall on public health.
The Vice President also assured the evacuees of assistance in the reconstruction of their houses.
“I talked to Vice Gov. (Mark Leviste) and the Task Force, I told them to list down all the materials needed for the rehabilitation,” Robredo said.
Robredo also called for an evacuation center for affected animals.
More than 38,000 people have fled their homes amid the continuing threat of a “hazardous eruption” of Taal, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said. – With Helen Flores, Janvic Mateo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rhodina Villanueva, Roel Pareño, Ding Cervantes