Faithful urged to donate tent materials for Mayon evacuees

FILE: Ash from Bicol Region’s restive Mayon Volcano will likely continue falling on areas west of this mountain during the week, further affecting communities there. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the faithful to give donations, particularly plastic sheets and plywood, to create tent cities in an effort to decongest evacuation centers for people affected by Mayon Volcano’s eruptions.

In his solidarity appeal, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas national director, asked the faithful for their compassion and help the people of Albay.

“It is in this regard that we would like to appeal for your generosity. We need 750 plastic sheets (4mx6m), 7,500 pieces of timber (2 x 2 x 8), and 1,000 pieces of marine plywood (#1/2). For a duplex tent, we shall need PHP13,000 to set up everything,” he said.

“We have been blessed with good things. Let the recent Mt. Mayon activities be a ‘witnessing’ opportunity for us to reach out to the most vulnerable and marginalized. The affected families in Albay urgently need our collectively intervention,” the NASSA/Caritas head added.

At the same time, the Catholic prelate is also asking the local government and the Catholic Church to use available open spaces as temporary shelter for those affected by the calamity.

“The Diocese of Legazpi and NASSA/Caritas are advocating the use of open spaces owned by the local government units and the Catholic Church, to be converted as ‘tent cities’. As such, the Caritas organization will be constructing tents and provide dignified temporary shelters to at least 500 families,” he said.

“Communal water and sanitation facilities will be the counterpart of other partners while labor will be from the Department of Labor and Employment’s cash-for-work program,” the Archbishop of Caceres added.

Thousands of people have been evacuated due to the continuing activities of Mayon Volcano.

The government, the Church and the private sector continue to provide assistance to the affected people, particularly in Albay.