The Iglesia ni Cristo was quick to respond to the need for assistance to victims of Japan’s most recent earthquake as it distributed thousands of boxes of relief goods under its International Aid for Humanity or Lingap program.
INC’s Glicerio B. Santos Jr. revealed on Sunday that the homegrown Filipino church had transported and distributed its relief packets to affected residents in Japan’s Kyushu region.
“We are doing everything we can to ease the lives of the quake victims in Japan. The assistance is of course intended for everyone who is affected by the tragedy, INC member or not, Japanese citizen or otherwise. The need to help transcends religious beliefs and nationality,” Santos said.
Twin earthquakes of at least 6.2-magnitude struck the Japanese cities of Kumamoto and Ueki just this mid-April. Around 50 people were reportedly killed, with close to a thousand more injured. The temblors toppled buildings and bridges in the area.
“The Japanese government was very effective in mobilizing its manpower support services, so the INC decided that relief goods of food, water and basic hygiene necessities are the best way we can help, as well as cash donations to the affected areas,” Santos added.
The relief packets contained bottled water, canned goods, cup noodles, cookies, coffee, tea, toiletries and adult and baby diapers.
INC’s relief efforts were coordinated under the auspices of the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, with Santos supervising the church’s efforts. No less than INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo initiated the relief efforts.
The Foundation has also spearheaded INC’s previous local and international relief efforts and provided assistance to those affected by Typhoon “Yolanda” and the Bohol earthquake both in 2013 as well as Typhoon “Katrina” which hit Louisiana in the United States in 2005, Hurricane Sandy in New York, tornadoes that struck Oklahoma, twice in South Africa and in Australia.
“The Japan earthquake relief is part of INC’s humble and emerging efforts at responsible global citizenship. Our efforts are puny compared to those of the Red Cross or the Red Crescent, but the church’s small steps hopefully could still make a difference to those in need,” Santos clarified.
