Church building 500 typhoon-resilient houses in Yolanda-hit areas CBCP

When Pope Francis visits the Philippines in January, he may be glad to know the Catholic Church is heading the construction of at least 500 typhoon-resilient houses in areas hit last November by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The Palo (Leyte) Archdiocese is leading the effort as part of the Catholic Churchs rehabilitation program for Yolanda-hit areas, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines reported late Wednesday.

(W)e plan to build additional 500 houses in Palo. In the other nine dioceses CBCP-NASSA is serving, the construction of typhoon-resilient houses takes priority, Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA) said on the CBCP news site.

The CBCP said an initial fund of 5.6 million euros will to fund relief operations for survivors of Yolanda, which left more than 6,000 dead.

Gariguez added the CBCP-NASSA has received donations amounting to 9.7 million euros (P600 million) from Caritas International. The amount may fund programs for Yolanda survivors for 2014.

He added these projects and programs for nine dioceses hit hard by Yolanda are included in CBCP-NASSAs second urgent appeal to Caritas International. Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

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Church building 500 typhoon-resilient houses in Yolanda-hit areas CBCP