Philippines
Near the city of Davao, CRS helps farmers grow more cacao and get better prices for their crops. Photo by Laura Sheahen/CRS
Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is vulnerable to frequent typhoons and is susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Although this country is rapidly urbanizing, it still faces high rates of poverty, particularly in rural areas where small-scale farmers struggle to eke out a living. In the southern Philippines, long-standing conflicts between different groups have led to violence and poverty.
Catholic Relief Services' agricultural programs in the Philippines lift small-scale farmers from poverty by linking them to more profitable markets. Our peacebuilding programs lessen violence, improve livelihoods and help create tolerance in the south.
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Stats
| Population: | 99,900,177 (July 2010 est.) |
| Size: | 115,831 sq mi; slightly larger than Arizona |
| People Served: | 423,533 (2011 est.) |
History
CRS Philippines is our oldest continuously operating program. Prompted by the mass destruction and loss of life in the Philippines during World War II, Catholic Relief Services, then called War Relief Services, first launched relief efforts in that country in 1945. Just 1 year later, the agency was providing supplies to more than 800,000 people.
Today, CRS focuses on agroenterprise and peacebuilding programs in Mindanao and is ready to respond in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Partners
Caritas Philippines, also known as the National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA), was created by the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in the mid-1960s. Led by Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez, NASSA is the social arm of the CBCP.
Catholic Relief Services works in close partnership with NASSA, collaborating on emergency preparedness and response, and peacebuilding. NASSA leads Social Action Centers in 80 dioceses and offers programs for emergency response, HIV and AIDS, community health, agriculture and advocacy.
