In the wake of pronouncements from various church denominations that slammed the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the Iglesia ni Cristo has called for a “multi-sectoral, cross-religious effort to combat poverty,” which the INC referred to as “public enemy number one.”
“While we have different beliefs, we agree wholeheartedly that we should wage all-out war against growing social inequity,” said INC general auditor Glicerio B. Santos Jr.
“Poverty is a problem that confronts us all, one that all faiths universally condemn,” stressed Santos.
Santos said that under the leadership of Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, the homegrown Filipino church has intensified its anti-poverty and socio-civic initiatives, which are all conducted through the INC’s own Felix Y. Manalo Foundation. Its pilot livelihood projects, Eco-Farming Sites all over the Philippines, were launch two years ago by the present Iglesia Ni Cristo administration.
“Our Lingap Pamamahayag is a year-round program that’s been actively providing material and spiritual help to Iglesia and non-Iglesia members all over the country. We envision an expansion of this initiative through the participation of our brethren from other socio-civic and religious groups so we can have a bigger impact on poverty reduction,” the INC official explained.
An example of this, Santos said, was the Lingap activity in General Santos, held at the city’s Polomolok Gymnasium on Jan. 29, where 12,000 “goodie packs,” 7,500 pieces of clothing and 10,000 toys were distributed to both Iglesia and non-Iglesia beneficiaries. Close to 30 doctors and dentists also provided free medical and dental assistance.
“Poverty is an enemy that we should all, regardless of political and religious affiliations, wage an unrelenting war against. We can better combat poverty if we work and pull our resources together,” added Santos.
Public sentiment from the last quarter of 2015 showed that economic issues top the list of concerns for ordinary Filipinos. An October 2015 survey released by Pulse Asia revealed wages, inflation and job creation as the most important issues Filipinos were most concerned about. Social Weather Stations findings compiled last year, meanwhile, showed that 11.4-million families remain poor. Fifty-one percent of Filipinos consider themselves poor, and 36 percent are lumped as “food poor.”
“The Iglesia says it has been trying to do its small share in helping those who have less in life. A bigger program that involves our brothers and sisters from other socio-civic and religious groups would generate added interest and have a bigger impact on our target communities. That’s the direction we want to pursue with Lingap.”
The Lingap Pamamahayag program has benefited communities in needy areas all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.