The Oplan Damayan of Caritas Manila have reached P1 billion worth of gift certificates to urban impoverished households living within the National Capital Region area as well as nearby provinces.

During Radyo Veritas and Caritas Manila Alay-Kapwa Telethon, Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual, Executive Director of Caritas Manila, announced that the church-based organization has already released P 1.07 billion gift certificates to 633 parishes from the Dioceses of Cubao, Parañaque, Kalookan, Novaliches, Antipolo (Rizal), San Pablo (Laguna), Malolos (Bulacan), Pasig, and the Archdiocese of Manila.

Photo Credit: Caritas Manila Facebook Page

 
According to Fr. Pascual, their continuous monitoring of the relief operations yielded a record of more than 813,557 urban families (or 4,069, 285 individual family members) that were helped by the Caritas Manila's Oplan Damayan.

The gift certificates were donated by Oplan Ugnayan, a group of businessmen, headed by Jaime Zobel de Ayala, who came together to bring aid, especially to the poor who are the most affected by COVID-19.

Caritas Manila initiated the collaboration between different organizations to make the distribution fast and efficient while at the same time complaint to the social distancing rule that is being strictly implemented. The organization tapped the parishes of different dioceses to implement the distribution. It also coordinated with the local barangays to help facilitate the on-ground distribution and identify poor families in their respective jurisdictions.

Here is the summary of Caritas Manila's aid distribution operation:

NO. Of Arch/ Dioceses: 10

NO. Of Parishes Participating: 633

NO. Of GCs released 1, 078, 212, 500

NO. Of families targeted 1, 078, 213

NO. OF ACTUAL POOR FAMILIES GCs RECEIVED: 813, 557 ( 81%)

NO. OF FAMILY MEMBERS BENEFITED: 4, 069, 285

Breakdown:

1. Archdiocese of Manila

309,912,500 GCs distributed to Parishes

300, 564 GCs received by poor families

2. Diocese of Caloocan

197, 500,000 GCs distributed to parishes

117, 894 GCs received ng poor families

3. Diocese of Novaliches

109, 300,000 GCs distributed to parishes

109, 154 GCs receivd received by poor families

4. Diocese of Imus

88, 100, 000 GCs distributed to parishes

76, 110 GCs received by poor families

5. Diocese of Antipolo

85, 400,000 GCs distributed to parishes

85, 164 GCs received by poor families

6. Diocese of Parañaque

77, 000,000 GCs distributed by parishes

19,600 GCs received by poor families

7. Diocese of Cubao

66,000,000 GCs received by parishes

25,001 GC received by poor families

8. Diocese of Pasig

60,000,000 GCs distributed by parishes

30, 565 GCs received by poor families

9. Diocese of San Pablo

50,000,000 GCs distributed by parishes

31,400 GCs received by poor families

10. Diocese of Malolos

35, 000,000 GCs distributed by parishes

18, 405 GCs received by poor families

Fr. Pascual assured the public that Caritas Manila, with the help of different church networks, will intensify the distribution of Manna gift packs, LIGTAS COVID kits and gift certificates to families affected by COVID-19 in the coming days as the enhanced community quarantine is extended until the end of April 2020. (Fatima Llanza/RCAM-AOC)