Church leaders in Manila have urged parishes to hold special collections at worship services this weekend to help the victims of the Taal volcano eruption. On 14 Jan 2020 the government of President Rodrigo Duterte urged the “total evacuation” of nearly a million people living near the volcano that is situated approximately 35 southwest of Manila.
Ash plumes almost nine miles high have risen from the smoldering volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has warned that an “explosive eruption” could be imminent. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that about 459,000 people lived within a 9 mile radius around the volcano while more than 930,000 people lived on a broader 11 mile “danger zone.”
“There was a time when Taal volcano erupted for six months,” Joselito Castro, head of the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, told UCA News. “We are preparing for at least half of that time as a worst-case scenario,” he added.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle issued a pastoral letter requesting that a second collection be taken at all Masses in support of refugees fleeing the volcano. On Facebook the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Philippines reported on relief efforts amongst the Episcopal churches in the danger zone.
What’s Up: Update as of January 14, 2019, 6pm
After launching a campaign for immediate relief and financial support for those most affected by the Taal Volcano eruption on January 12, 2020, The Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines shares to you the following:
1). St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, (our base) in Crossing Mendez Tagaytay City (back of Jollibee) is currently taking care of 8 families (34 individuals) who evacuated from the eruption and are now housed in our Church Rectory. This number may increase in the next 24 hours as their relatives together with some neighbours are transferring from other evacuation centers to our Church. Sagada Construction is helping out in moving evacuees and at the same time fetching water for sanitary needs.
2). Christ the Lord Episcopal Church (Sinisian, West ot Lemery, Batangas) in Sitio Ilaya, where the Church is located, there are around 40 families (315 individuals) who sought shelter with relatives on higher ground while others were housed at the Balayan, National High School.
3). Balayan National High School considered as the center of evacuation for the neighboring towns of Agoncillo, Calaca and Lemery.
As of 9:00am January 14, 2020, there are 192 families being housed there (more or less 700 individuals).
In trying to prioritize their immediate/basic needs we came up with the following things:
• Food has to be cooked (we need vegetables/healthy foods to prepare)
• Drinking water is still a need, but we needed more
• Beddings, banig, kumot, at unan
• Clothes
• Tents
• Safe lamps (no electricity yet)
• Face masks
• Kitchen utensils, and more importantly
• Sanitary kits for women and children
4). For CASH donations:
BANK name:
The Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines or EDCP
a. BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS peso account: 3891-0009-94; US dollar: 003894-0036-84 swift code BOPIPHMM
b. Chinabank peso account: 223-0097810.
Kindly inform us your remittances via fb messenger or email at edcpbishop@gmail.com togethèr with a copy of deposit slip or screen shot of your fund transfer for issuance of official receipt.
5). In kind donations may be brought to The Cathedral of St. Mary & St. John (275 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave. Quezon City – beside St Luke’s Medical Center and Trinity University of Asia) look for Fr James Boliget or at Brent International School (Mamplasan, Binan Laguna) look for Padi Mary Balitog.
For friends who are capable to bring their donations to the evacuation centers (St Barnabas Church in Tagaytay or Balayan National High School, Batangas) kindly contact
Fr. Joe Medina at
Smart 09217009195
Globe 09156137496
for PROPER coordination and guidance po.
May the Good Lord bless you in abundance!
