INC sets ‘Covid-19 Relief Drive’ for NCR+ areas

FOLLOWING the call of its executive minister, Eduardo V. Manalo, to support the government’s effort to alleviate the condition of majority of Filipinos due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) announced the start of a relief drive to cities and provinces in the ‘NCR Plus Bubble’ areas.

Bro. Glicerio Santos IV, head of the INC’s Finance Department, said already, they have allocated nearly 10 million for the purchase of relief goods and other needs they would be distributing in close coordination with concerned local government units for an “organized and targeted distribution” process beginning on April 18, until the end of the month.

The program is under the INC’s continuing ‘Lingap sa Mamamayan Program,’ that has already benefited millions of people here and abroad.

“Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo and the entire INC continue to act on the spirit of Bayanihan that our government is spearheading. We as a Church will do our share in providing assistance to our countrymen in need — those who have lost jobs, those who need food and basic supplies, those who need upliftment during this ongoing health emergency,” Santos added.

The initial phase of the Lingap initiative, with an allocated budget of Php 9.8M, will involve the following LGUs and provinces in the NCR Plus bubble: Quezon City (Php 1.6M worth of goody bags), Manila (Php 500T); Caloocan (Php 500T); Las Piñas (Php 300T); Makati (Php 300T);

Malabon (Php 300T); Mandaluyong (Php 300T); Marikina (Php 300T); Muntinlupa (Php 300T); Navotas (Php 300T); Parañaque (Php 300T); Pasay (Php 300T); Pasig (Php 300T);

Pateros (Php 300T); San Juan (Php 300T); Taguig (Php 300T); Valenzuela (Php 300T); Rizal (Php 1M); Laguna (Php 500T); Cavite (Php 500T); and, Bulacan (Php 1M).

“We are driven by our Executive Minister Manalo’s malasakit sa kapwa.

“He is our guide and inspiration in the entire assistance effort. This is only the first phase of our Covid Lingap.

“More are planned immediately after this one,” Santos said.

“We are finalizing the contents of the goody bags but they will definitely include food and hygiene items and possibly basic medical supplies,” Santos stressed.

The INC official pointed out that the current Lingap is a continuation of the series of humanitarian initiatives supervised by former General Auditor Bro. Glicerio B. Santos, Jr. for several years.

Successful Lingap and Aid to Humanity campaigns had been held throughout the Philippines, in various parts of Asia, Africa, Australia-New Zealand, the American continent and in Europe.

The INC, Sanglesia Ni Cristo said it will focus its resources this time on local needs, as the country continues to battle the Covid-19 virus.

“Rest assured that the Church will continue to help and assist our national and local governments, to provide direct, tangible assistance. We will also continue our prayers that the whole nation may peacefully overcome this pandemic,” Santos added further.