CBCP to raise P600M for Yolanda rehabilitation

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said it will need at least 9.7 million Euros or around P600 million to rebuild homes and give jobs to those affected by supertyphoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas last year.

This as the CBCP appealed to international organization, Caritas Internationalis, for financial assistance for the one-year rehabilitation program.

Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace, said he is now finalizing the report to be submitted to Caritas on the detailed rehabilitation plan of churches under nine archdioceses and dioceses.

"Ito ay ginawa ng siyam na diyosesis na apektado. May participatory process kasama ang community sa pagpaplano kasi iba-iba ang pangangailangan maging sa livelihood at sa shelter ng mga survivors ng bagyong Yolanda," the prelate told Radyo Veritas.

The priest said that the CBCP has  used up 5.6 million Euros for the relief operations in the Yolanda-affected areas.

In the second week of May, Fr. Gariguez said CBCP-NASSA representatives will fly to Europe to raise the funds from Caritas partners.

"Good as approved na rin naman yan. That’s a  very conservative estimate na kayang i-raise sa tingin ko, kaya natin yung higitan pa. Kaya kailangan din nating personal na magtungo doon sa UK (United Kingdom) at may meeting din sa Caritas Internationalis sa Roma.

"Sa iba’t ibang bansa kami magka-campaign...the more na nakikita nila na maganda ang sistema naipapatupad ng maayos, tulad ng relief phase, mas nagkakaroon sila ng malaking tiwala sa Simbahan natin para mas higit tayong pagkatiwalaan ng mas malaking pondo para makapagpatuloy," he added.