Church marks jubilee transporting relief goods to survivors

Roman Catholic nuns, nurses and protestant and Roman Catholic volunteers line up to pass relief goods for loading a truck headed for the survivors of typhoon Yolanda at the compound of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. (Photo: ACT/Sandra Cox)

THE National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) celebrated its 50^th jubilee of foundation doing relief operations for survivors of typhoon Yolanda.

The country’s biggest group of mainline Protestant and Non-Roman Catholic churches, on November 15 commemorated its founding anniversary packing and transporting relief goods for typhoon survivors.

 “We decided to tone down the commemoration of our jubilee in solidarity with our people who have faced the wrath of the storm,” said NCCP General Secretary, Fr. Rex RB. Reyes, Jr.

 “Instead of a grand celebration, we have transformed our commemoration into an act of solidarity with those who are suffering,” he said.

The NCCP has been actively distributing food and water in Samar since the impact of the devastation became known.

Their compound in EDSA has become a relief center where volunteers are working day and night to repack goods for distribution to the affected areas. 

“Today we will remember our jubilee by committing ourselves to intensify our relief efforts not just for the immediate situation but also for longer-term rehabilitation,” said Reyes.

According to Reyes “responding to the needs of the people” has been a significant part of the NCCP’s work since it was first established in 1963.

“It is sad that our people are suffering but it is in keeping with our basic identity as a National Council of Churches that as we come to celebrate fifty years of our existence, the Lord of the Church should find us busy in the service of those in need,” Reyes said.

The NCCP is a member of the ACT Alliance which is a global network of churches and church related organizations affiliated with the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation engaged in humanitarian work, advocacy and development work.

The ACT Philippine Forum is composed of Christian Aid, Lutheran World Relief, United Methodist Church Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO) and Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz (HEKS).

NCCP is presently forum coordinator and is working closely with its partners in bringing relief and rehabilitation services to affected communities.