In 2015 LDS Charities provided assistance to 476,728 beneficiaries in the Philippines.
Since 1985 LDS Charities has worked with partners world-wide to provide aid to those in need, regardless of cultural or religious beliefs. LDS Charities provides emergency assistance when disasters occur. It also provides long-term aid through signature programs such as the clean water projects, wheelchair provision, maternal and newborn care, vision care, immunization campaigns and food production training, as well as a variety of local community projects.
Built on the principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance and sustainability, it gives individuals and communities the resources they need to improve their lives in lasting and meaningful ways.
Funding comes from normal, everyday people who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others, not from government grants or large corporate donations. One hundred percent of the funds go toward project expenses. The overhead costs are paid fully by the Church.
LDS Charities identifies local partners who align with its mission and implement successful projects. It works with organizations of all sizes from global NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and government departments to local service oriented organizations - partners that know the unique needs of the communities they serve and can develop local solutions.
Volunteers come from a global network, but mostly live in the communities where LDS Charities serves, reducing the time and costs required to meet changing needs. Volunteers fit within an established framework of local leadership that provides direction and a coordinated response.
During 2015 in the Philippines, there were a total of 23 humanitarian projects including 5 emergency response to disasters, 11 major initiatives programs, and 7 area initiatives which provided help to an estimated 476,728 beneficiaries in the Republic of the Philippines.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
When disasters occur, LDS Charities provides volunteer labor, food, clothing, medical supplies, and other emergency relief assistance to relieve the suffering of those in urgent need.
- Typhoon Seniang. Relief supplies provided: 175 Family Size Tents, 1200 Cooking Kits, 450 Food Kits, and 3 Portable Filtration Systems. A large mobile water refilling station was deployed to alleviate water needs of residents.
- Brgy. Tamac, Abra Emergency Response. Massive landslides forced 700 individuals to leave their homes. Relief Supplies provided: 170 food and hygiene kits, medicines, tents. Partnered with TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation and the Philippine Army with the help of Mormon Helping Hands volunteers.
- Displaced Lumads (Indigenous People). More than 3,000 Lumads displaced from 20 communities of Surigao Del Sur. Relief supplies provided: food and hygiene Kits, blankets, medicines. Partnered with TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation with the help of Mormon Helping Hands volunteers who put 1300 man-hours of service.
- Typhoon Lando (Int’l Name Koppu) Worst Storm to hit in 2015 brought a trail of destruction in Northern Luzon. At total of 24,489 food relief kits were sent to Cagayan Valley and Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Aurora Province with the help of Mormon Helping Hands volunteers who put more than 10,000 man-hours of service.
- Typhoon Nona (Intl Names: Melor) 2nd strongest storm to hit in 2015 destroying farm lands and homes along its path. Volunteers packed and distributed food and hygiene relief kits, water and other items with the help of Mormon Helpings Hands Volunteers who put more than 7,000 man-hours of service.
CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
LDS Charities builds water and sanitation systems and teaches individuals about hygiene and system maintenance to support community efforts to meet their longterm needs
Sagada Clean Water Project, Barangay Poblacion. This project was initiated in 2014 and partially funded and completed in 2015.
BENSON FOOD INTIATIVE
Home and food production combined with nutrition training help improve quality of life, reduce disease, and increase self-reliance.
Typhoon Ruby/Hagupit-Samar. Provided for relief supplies and certified rice seeds and high quality vegetable seeds funded partially in 2014 and completed in 2015.
Vegetable Growers in Ormoc, Leyte. Completed the protective covers of farmers with new irrigation methods, a project partially funded in 2014 and completed in 2015.
IMMUNIZATIONS
LDS Charities provides social mobility to inform communities about immunization campaigns contributing to a reduction in deaths from preventable diseases.
Measles Immunization Campaign funding served additional assistance with DOH school poster campaign, 2014 project completed in 2015.
VISION
LDS Charities collaborates with local doctors to diagnose and treat vision problems and provides equipment and supplies for examinations and procedures
Philippines Vision Project Highlights located in Bacolod City serving areas of Region 6. Partners: Negros Eye Specialists with Corazon Locsin Montelibano Hospital. Assistance: Ophthalmological Microscope and accessories for surgical missions included 40,000 beneficiaries.
WHEELCHAIRS
Trained local rehabilitation specialists assess individuals' mobility needs and provide wheelchairs and other mobility aids to those in need who cannot afford them. This greatly increases the recipient's health, mobility and self-reliance.
Wheelchair Projects: two new organization partners signed and developed. Three MOAs were completed with existing partners. There were 5,466 beneficiaries.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
LDS Charities works at the local level to find and work with resources to resolve unmet needs in the community.
- Medicines and supplies for Bombo Radyo and Radio MGA-Davao outreach mission.
- National Kidney & Transplant Institute repair and replacement of parts of x-ray machine.
- Donation of Service Wheelchairs to DOH Regional Hospitals
- Donation of air conditioners to the Lilaine Child Development, Inc., a school for special needs children.
- Provide wheelchairs, elderly kits, medications at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Home for the Elderly.
- Organized insect repellants spray for the poor families of dengue fever affected areas in Davao City.
- Medical supplies, school and hygiene kits, and anti-smoking puppet show during US Naval Ship Mercy Hospital ship visit.
SERVICE MISSIONARIES
Church-service missionaries of all ages, capacities, and locations serve in a variety of service missions. As few as six hours a week to a full-time away from home.
Total of 18 Welfare Service Missionary couples (34 total individuals) worked actively (15 assigned to the wheelchair initiatives and 3 for other initiatives. Located in Metro Manila 6, Pangasinan 1, Illocos Sur 3, Baguio 1, Cavite 1, Iloilo 2, Cebu 1, Bataan 1, Cagayan De Oro 1, Davao 1.
Volunteer Service Hours: welfare service missionaries and volunteers logged 20,736 volunteer hours last year.
HELPING HANDS VOLUNTEERS
Mormon Helping Hands provides organized opportunities for Church members to give their time and talents to bless those in need. Youth and adults become more sensitive to the challenges others face.
Mormon Helpings Hand volunteers also donated at least 57,500 hours volunteering assistance to the 2015 humanitarian projects of LDS Charities.
RECOGNITION
- Certificate of Appreciation given by Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the Philippine General Hospital. PGH
- Certificate of Appreciation given by AKAP PINOY (Alyansa ng may Kaponsanang Pinoy), a longtime partner with the wheelchair program. AKAP PINOY are advocates in assisting the Persons with Disabilities.
- Certificate of Appreciation given by Municipality of Cainta for conducting Wheelchair Assessment training and providing mobility and assistive devices to the Persons with Disabilities of Cainta.
- The Civilian Military Operations Group (CMOG) of the Philippine Navy presented a plaque of appreciation to LDS Charities accepted by LDS representatives Elder and Sister Soleta.