By Nestor Maniebo Pestelos, BCBP Tagbilaran
The Social Action Ministry of the BCBP Tagbilaran East Chapter has reported progress in its efforts to reach needy families in Bohol.
During the lockdown period from March to August this year, the Ministry provided a total of 14,640 kilos of rice valued at Php 547,863.20 to 2,504 indigent families in the province.
Aside from providing the much-needed rice assistance to indigent families during the pandemic, the Ministry continues to give cash and other donations to charity organizations, namely, Bohol Sunshine Home, an orphanage in Tagbilaran City; Holy Trinity Poverty Alleviation Foundation, Inc., with an orphanage in Albur, Bohol; Schola Societas for its blind but musically-talented students, run by Societas Divinae Charitatis, Inc.
In addition, the social action program has provided support to the following: Scholarship grants for children from poor families; assistance to barangay-based parish feeding program for children in Cogon, Tagbilaran City; support to other charitable activities (financial support to an Outreach mission to Camiguin Island; donation of Bibles to University students and other Catholic organizations; support to a Catholic Defenders radio program in Cebu; and donating a laptop to Catholic defenders in Cebu; transport support to a homeless family leaving Tagbilaran, etc.).
It has also provided financial and other support to the program for the homeless initiated by another Brod, Fr. Vic Uy, of Holy Name University. Total donations to these charitable causes for the period January 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020 amounted to Php 1,637,752.02. If combined with the amount of rice donation to date at Php 547,863.20, the total donations provided by the Social Action Ministry, BCBP Tagbilaran East Chapter, would amount to date to Php 2,185,613.22.
The chapter recognizes that this milestone has been achieved through the efforts and dedication of Social Action Head Bro Marjon Lumayag, who carried out activities initially by himself and later, with the involvement of his action group, and eventually with the chapter itself. under the direction of the PSD. The creation of a partner entity, the Bohol Social Action Foundation, Inc. (BoSAFI), composed of Bro Marjon Lumayag and other BCBP East Chapter leaders . resulted from discussions about ways and means to ensure the expansion and sustainability of the social action program aimed at reaching the needy among individuals, families, and groups in the province.
As approved by AMD Jojo Maniwan, RCD Steven Lim will soon convene the Social Action Ministry Heads of Tagbilaran North, East, West and South Chapters to study the possibility of utilizing BOSAFI as partner entity in mobilizing resources and delivering services and assistance to the poor during and beyond this pandemic.
