SOME 100,000 food and relief packs were distributed to evacuees from Marawi City by the Iglesia ni Cristo in Balo-i town, Lanao del Norte Tuesday, July 11.
The relief distribution or “Lingap” commenced at 6 a.m. to evacuees previously identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Marawi Crisis Committee.
The relief packs, packed by church members in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental, contained food items and other goods, were brought to the evacuation centers by 42 trucks from Cagayan de Oro City.
Emiliano Magtuto Jr., the director of the Iglesia ni Cristo School Ministers, said the goods were bought using contributions of INC members from all over the world “as a way of showing Christian love to another fellowman especially those in distress.’
Datu Basher Alonto, chairman of the Metro Manila Muslim Community for Justice and Peace, thanked the INC members for the relief packs. Muslim leaders also thanked INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo who mobilized church members and resources to help the IDPs.
The INC has previously mobilized church members and resources to provide assistance to communities hit by disaster and calamities.
Tuesday’s mobilization, however, was INC’s biggest yet.