On June 16, 2025, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated PHP 1.5 million worth of equipment to the municipality of Sta. Rita in Samar to help the town prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
The disaster preparedness equipment was donated by Latter-day Saints Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church. It is expected to enhance the town’s capability to respond to frequent road crashes and flooding caused by recurring natural calamities in the area. The donation includes a rescue boat for flooding, an extrication kit, a generator set, static rope, dynamic rope, double pulley, tandem pulley, minding pulley, carabiners, brake bar rack, chest ascender, hand ascender, anchor plate, flat rope, and a traverse basket.
The turnover ceremony, held at the town gymnasium, was attended by Mayor Jade Kie Tiu. She expressed gratitude to the Church for the donation, which will enable the local government to establish a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) along the national road. “This will bring the MDRRMO closer to the areas prone to accidents,” she added.
The local government has been planning to establish an operations center in Barangay Old Manunca to enhance its ability to respond swiftly to frequent road accidents in 22 villages along the national road, which is part of the country’s nautical highway.
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MDRRMO head Marlo Nerviol also expressed gratitude to the organization for the donation, noting that the town—located 47 kilometers north of Tacloban City and home to approximately 43,384 residents—lacks a rescue boat despite 15 of its villages being prone to flooding. “This is the equipment that we need. The donor came and offered help. They did not ask anything of us. This is about trust and faith,” Nerviol said during the turnover.
Also present at the ceremony was Jumer Operio, President of the Tacloban Philippines Stake (diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In his remarks, he shared, “This is our way of showing our love to the people here in Sta. Rita. We help people both temporally and spiritually because we believe what the scripture says: ‘If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.’”
The area around Barangay Old Manunca, located along the national road, is prone to accidents and lies outside the town center, often resulting in a 30-minute delay for responders. The new equipment will allow emergency personnel to respond more quickly.
This donation is part of the Church’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to relieve suffering, foster self-reliance, and provide opportunities for service. Members are encouraged to follow Jesus Christ's example by caring for those in need and inviting all to come unto Him through service and outreach.