While the people of Catanduanes should appreciate the combined efforts of the national and local governments in responding to the recent calamity, they should likewise be equally thankful for the contribution of the different groups that are now aiding typhoon victims in their own capacities.
As soon as Uwan’s winds died down, the Diocese of Virac, through its social arm Caritas Virac Justice and Peace, Inc., issued a call for donations, not only for cash but also for essential items, and appealed to everyone to stand together to help fellow Catandunganons rebuild their shattered lives.
As of November 21, 2025, the Bangon Catanduanes fundraising effort has received over P3.5 million in cash donations, not including pledges from kind-hearted people and organizations.
It has already conducted relief operations in affected communities in Gigmoto and Baras, with each household receiving food packs, bedding and other basic necessities.
In a pastoral letter read during Mass last Sunday in celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, Bishop Luisito Occiano reminded parishioners that the road of rebuilding is long and that many families still have no homes, no livelihood, and no assurance of tomorrow.
He made a heartfelt appeal for continued donations and solidarity for the Catholic Church’s diocesan and parish rebuilding programs in a common goal of restoring hope with dignity.
Another group with the same noble purpose is the Philippine Red Cross, with its chapter in Catanduanes monitoring the situation during the typhoon and deploying volunteers to assess the damage the day after.
Last Nov. 15, the PRC Humanitarian Caravan arrived in flood-hit Boton in San Miguel, gave hot meals to 346 individuals along with health and hygiene promotion, and set up a welfare desk and First Aid station.
It also provided a Child Friendly Space to 46 kids who relished the story telling aimed at reducing the stress brought by the storm.
In the nearby villages of Progreso, Paraiso, Kilikilihan and Mabato, it installed a water bladder and tap stand to provide access to clean and safe water. More than 20,000 liters of potable water have so far been delivered to more than 500 families.
In the storm surge-ravaged coastal barangays of Bocon and Tubli in Caramoran, as well as in Pandan, its teams in the ground delivered the same humanitarian services.
Bote and Carorian In Bato town were also reached by the PRC Humanitarian Caravan, which not only provided the same services but also brought along Starlink connectivity to enable residents to communicate with their worried relatives in faraway places.
For both the Diocese of Virac and the Philippine Red Cross, the topmost priority are the most affected and most vulnerable sectors of the community.
This sets apart from the local governments, most of which are forced to give food assistance to all families, rich or poor, for political convenience.
Other than avoiding the risk of alienating voters, this unstated policy of local chief executives runs counter to the very purpose of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) which their respective LGUs are supposed to use as a tool for a more improved governance and greater transparency and accountability in resource allocation.
According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which implements the program,
benefits to be derived from the CBMS include building up of the capacity of the members of the community to participate in the development planning and monitoring process, enrichment of existing LGU databases, enhancement of the preparation of socioeconomic profiles, development and investment plans, aids in diagnosing poverty at the local level and in formulating appropriate interventions, identifying resource allocations and eligible beneficiaries.
In the light of the stupendous and horrifying waste of scarce government funds in the flood control scam, the national and local governments need to provide targeted assistance to those who need it most: those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.
Giving food packs to those who are not in the list of eligible beneficiaries identified under CBMS defeats the very essence of coming to one’s aid, as those who need more are deprived of what they need to survive.
“Parareho man kitang binagyohan” is a lame excuse for denying those who have less in life a chance to feed themselves for three more days.