Priests in Visayas and Mindanao have assured that their Churches will be opened for those who need to flee due to the impact of typhoon Odette.
According to Rev. Fr. Denish Ilogon, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Surigao, they are already preparing for the typhoon to hit them, so they will open all their parishes and facilities for those who want to evacuate.
They also reminded parish priests to send a report if residents immediately needed help.
“Instruction natin na ipagamit ang mga facilities ng mga parokya sakaling kailangan na additional evacuation center lalo na kung may request from the LGU’s. Yun mga Parish Priest at mga point peson tinawagan na natin para mag –report agad sila if may makita sila na kailangan ng tulong sa lugar nila,” said Fr. Ilogon.
In this regard, the priests have also met at the Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro to prepare for possible floods and evacuations.
According to Rev. Fr. Bong Galas, social action director of the said Archdiocese, they are currently experiencing rains in the province, reason to declare that some sectors have already announced the cancellation of admission to the offices.
Churches in Visayas and Mindanao open for evacuees
Fr. Galas prays Odette will not cause severe damage, especially since their countrymen are already scared due to the experience of typhoon Sendong in 2011 and Typhoon Pablo in 2012.
“Sana hindi na maging grabe ang impact ni Odette kasi may phobia na din ang mga tao lalo na dito sa amin dumaan kami sa Sendong at konti doon sa Pablo then yun dalawang pagbaha pa noon kaya pag sinabi na may bagyo natataranta na din ang mga tao.”
“It’s been our practice po na kapag may bagyo ang mga Simbahan natin available po at yun mga centers natin welcome ang mga [need] mag-shelter,” said Fr. Galas.
Odette intensifies inti typhoon as it moves westward over the Philippine Sea East of Mindanao, Pagasa said on its severe weather bulletin.
The Typhoon “ODETTE” center was estimated based on all available data at 590 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.