The Catholic Church’s social action centers in 69 dioceses across the country were able to extend aid to at least four million households affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
As of May 4, Caritas Philippines raised about US$27.9 million worth of financial and in-kind donations from local and foreign donors.
Father Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the National Secretariat for Social Action, said the network has tried to reach out to those most in need through “locally-led initiatives.”
He said a huge part of the cash and in-kind donations were raised by Caritas Manila, the social action arm of the Archdiocese of Manila.
The donations were then distributed to other dioceses in other parts of the country.
Caritas Philippines has earlier called on members of its network to promote the “decentralization of aid” wherein communities themselves help those in need.
“Caritas has designed a method to integrate and stimulate community solidarity protecting the dignity of the poorest,” said Father Gariguez.
