Church group asks help for earthquake victims

ESCALANTE City, Feb. 9, 2012—The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) in Negros-Panay region has launched an appeal for earthquake victims in Negros Oriental.

Fr. Gilbert S. Billena, O.Carm, who coordinates the RMP Negros-Panay Chapter said victims temporarily staying in evacuation center at Upper Sitio Moog in Guihulngan are in dire need of food and other basic things.

“Our effort for relief operation will be targeting to distribute relief goods for at least 500 families in the next few days. We hope for your response to make the relief operation possible,” read his letter of appeal.

Billena gave a list of basic goods that donors can send to the victims including rice, dried fish, cooking oil, legumes, and salt sardines, canned meat loaf /corned beef, tents for temporary shelter, sleeping mats, and clothing.

Hardest hit areas in Negros Oriental were Guihulngan, La Libertad and Tayasan.

Citing initial reports from local chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Billena said a landslide in Guihulngan City has buried 15 houses with 23 persons including children ages 2 to 12 years old in it.

Constant tremors in the site delayed retrieval of bodies buried from the landslides, he added.

The victims are temporarily staying in evacuation area at Upper Sitio Moog, Brgy. Planas in Guihulngan.

In Barangay Buenavista, he said, several houses were also damaged and local residents have moved in an evacuation center in the upland areas.

RMP is coordinating with KMP in the area to facilitate the relief efforts as people are still waiting for relief operations, according to Billena.

Since the RMP Negros-Panay has no organizational bank account at the moment, possible donors can course their donation to Fr. Gilbert S. Billena, O.Carm of Mt. Carmel Parish, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Cash donation can also be deposited at Banco de Oro. Account Name: St. Francis Convent, Old Poblacion, Account No: 3020009434 (Escalante City Branch) Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Billena is asking donors to notify RMP Negros-Panay through emailrmpwesternvisayas@yahoo.com.ph, the amount of donation and place of origin so they can acknowledge the contribution and render a report to benefactors. (CBCPNews)