Latter-day Saints Mobilize to Help Thousands Impacted by ‘Habagat’ Monsoon Floods

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducted rescue and relief operations for thousands of people in the Philippines impacted by intense flooding brought about by the southwest monsoon, locally known as Habagat, from late August to early September.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that 646 areas in seven regions were flooded, with 2.3 million families or 8.1 million individuals adversely affected by the Habagat, which also resulted in overflowing rivers and dams as well as damaged or collapsed infrastructure. 

Church leaders and members promptly mobilized to reach out to victims, preparing and distributing humanitarian aid, as well as opening different meetinghouses to serve as evacuation centers.

In Dagupan City, Pangasinan, 150 volunteers from the Dagupan Philippines Stake prepared 3,000 food relief packs for distribution to thousands of residents in need, particularly those affected by the flooding. 

Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez personally thanked Church volunteers for their humanitarian service. “You are the ones who who give help openly without asking anything in return,” she told Church members in gratitude. 

President Oliver Bondad, the stake president, also complimented the volunteers who helped in the preparation of the relief items, and emphasized the joy that comes from serving others: “In giving selfless service, we feel happiness.”

In Tarlac, President Restituto Bajarin of the Camiling Philippines Stake reported that an estimated 500 families from six wards were impacted by flooding, with 14 families evacuating to a Church meetinghouse in Camiling town.

Camiling Mayor Joyce Benitez Agustin personally visited the evacuees and thanked the Church for its support in helping affected residents. The Church also joined hands with municipal officials and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in providing aid. 

In Quezon City, the Batasan and Regalado meetinghouses of the Fairview Philippines Stake were also opened as evacuation centers, with 106 families finding refuge at the latter. The Church also collaborated with the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) to distribute food packs to the evacuees. 

In and around Rizal province, some 140 families sought shelter in different meetinghouses belonging to the Montalban Philippines Stake, according to data provided by stake and ward organization leaders.

In Pampanga, President Louie Escoto and other leaders in the Angeles Philippines Stake helped rescue stranded Church members and residents. Stake leaders were able to procure a truck which was large enough to go through flooded areas. 

Members from several wards, namely, Angeles 1st, Angeles 2nd, Angeles 3rd, Bulaon 1st, and Bulaon 2nd helped some 39 families and individuals settle temporarily at the Angeles Philippines Stake Center, which was opened as an evacuation center, and provided food, clothing, toiletries, beddings, and other essentials. 

The stake also joined hands with the PRC in delivering relief items to different municipalities located within the stake boundaries, as many communities remained submerged for several days.

In different stakes and districts, the Church’s full-time missionaries also conducted service projects to help families whose homes were impacted in various degrees by the calamity. 

These relief efforts reflect the continuing commitment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to care for those in need as Jesus Christ taught. Every year, the Church provides humanitarian aid to thousands of people in need throughout the Philippines either directly or in collaboration with other organizations.