KIDAPAWAN CITY (Wednesday / 19 Wed) – The Oblates Missionary Foundation, together with the Oblates Media and Communications Group, distributed on Wednesday food, water, and other relief items to thousands of survivors of super typhoon Pablo in New Bataan, one of the towns in Compostela Valley ravaged by the recent disaster.
The foundation, run by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate which is considered specialists in difficult missions in Southern Philippines, has gathered considerable cash, used clothing, food items, and other relief goods from several establishments, partner institutions, religious organizations, private individuals, and other groups from North Cotabato, Cotabato City, and Maguindanao.
The relief mission on Wednesday was the second since last week, according to Oblates Foundation chief executive officer Fr. Jonathan Domingo.
Domingo also heads the Oblate Media and Communications Network, which includes the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC) and the Mindanao Cross, Inc.
With help still pouring in, the foundation plans to conduct its third wave of relief operations in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental early January next year.
Employees and staff of the Oblates Media Group have also allotted a portion of their Christmas bonuses for the Pablo survivors, he stressed.
“This is our way of celebrating Christmas with our brothers and sisters in those typhoon-hit areas in Mindanao. For me, this is my best Christmas, ever, because we were able to help those less fortunate recover from the ravages of a disaster,” said Domingo.
The Oblates Foundation has coordinated with the local priest and religious groups in New Bataan for the distribution.
The Oblates, according to Domingo, are grateful that people, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, and political beliefs, responded their calls for help “with compassion and generosity.”
There are more than 840,000 flood victims still staying in at least 21 evacuation camps in two typhoon-hit provinces in the Davao Region, reports from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
Last year, the foundation has also conducted Operation Sendong to flood victims in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)
