Pope prays for Kristine victims in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has offered prayers for Filipinos affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

At Sunday’s Angelus address at the Vatican, the 87-year-old pontiff reportedly mentioned praying for the victims of Kristine.

“I am close to the population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone. May the Lord support those people, so full of faith,” the pope said, from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Floods and landslides led to 116 casualties, 109 injured and 39 missing people, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said yesterday.

Kristine affected 6.7 million people or 1.6 million families in 10,147 barangays nationwide. It also displaced 980,355 people in 6,286 evacuation centers.

Damage to agriculture and infrastructure was estimated at P2.5 billion and P1.5 billion, respectively.

Two more areas were placed under a state of calamity, bringing to 160 the total number of cities and municipalities that declared a state of calamity.

Caritas Philippines has appealed for food donations, potable water, hygiene kits and other relief supplies.

Bishops in the hardest-hit Bicol region had also appealed for aid as many families remained in evacuation centers.

Caritas Manila executive director Anton Pascual reported they have donated an initial P1.2 million to six dioceses in Bicol, namely the Archdiocese of Caceres in Camarines Sur and the Dioceses of Libmanan, Legazpi, Daet, Virac and Sorsogon.

Pascual said they are preparing to send assistance to affected dioceses in Southern Luzon and Central Luzon, as well as donations to help repair churches.

Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera reportedly asked for prayers and help in Batangas.

In a situation report, the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Commission said 43 people died and 22 are missing in the province.

Meanwhile, three Philippine Postal Corp. trucks are being utilized by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to deliver essential supplies to communities in Bicol.

Two trucks carried 720 shelter tarpaulins and a third truck was stocked with 3,500 hygiene kits.

In Pampanga, the police regional office on Saturday deployed 62 personnel – specializing in search, rescue and