Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said this is part of the 40th anniversary activities of the Church’s “Alay Kapwa” program.
“I trust that each [of the] parishes will contribute for Alay Kapwa,” Tagle said in an article posted on the website of Church-run Radio Veritas.
Also, Caritas Manila, Radyo Veritas and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace will hold a telethon on Holy Monday for the Caritas Damayan Disaster Risk Reduction Management Program.
Radio Veritas president and Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual said the proceeds will fund the Catholic Church’s social action centers.
These centers will implement programs to help the poor and victims of calamities.
Pascual said the Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, being visited by an average of 20 cyclones.
He said Caritas Manila responds to such calamities via relief assistance and pre-disaster trainings and help in the restoration and rebuilding of communities.
“Funds raised from Alay Kapwa will be used as emergency funds for both natural and human-caused calamities like typhoons, floods, fire, earthquakes, and other tragedies and crises, and for disaster prevention and mitigation programs,” he said.
“In this season of Lent, especially in this Year of the Poor, our Catholic faith teaches us to do acts of charity. We encourage everyone to help and support this program to help more people in times of disasters and calamities,” he added.
Donations will also be accepted through Peso Bank Accounts:
Account Name: Caritas Manila Inc.
BPI Account Number Peso Savings Account No. 3063-5357-01; Dollar Savings Account No. 3064-0033-5
SWIFT CODE: BOPIPHMM
Donors may also contact 563-9311, 564-0205, 0999-7943455, 0905-4285001 or 0929-8343857.
For his part, NASSA executive secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez said the second collection is a once-in-a-year collection.
“Kung tutuusin napakaliit ng nanggagaling sa mga Diocese kaya kadalasan tayo ay laging umasa sa ibang bansa para sa tulong. Kaya ito ay isang magandang pagkakataon para tumulong, kaya kunin natin yung pagkakataon na ibinibigay sa atin ng Simbahan para tayo ay tumulong, ito ay natatangi dahil ito ay para sa mga biktima ng kalamidad at para sa mga tinutulungan nating programa ng mga mahihirap at mga emergency situation sa bansa,” he said. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News
