Floods, landslides before Pope visits Leyte

LEYTE, Philippines – Two weeks before Pope Francis arrives in the Philippines, floods and landslides hit the disaster-stricken province of Leyte. How is the Catholic Church helping disaster survivors there?

Paterno Esmaquel files this video blog. 

(Watch the video blog. The script of the video report follows.)

A few meters from here we’ll see the Pope Francis Center for the Poor.

The Pope donated this center to help Super Typhoon Yolanda survivors in Leyte.

But two weeks before the Pope arrives, a storm triggers floods in this area again. In at least one area in Leyte, Tropical Storm Seniang (Jangmi) leads to a deadly landslide.

Storm survivors here appeal for more help.

The Catholic Church hopes the Pope’s visit will bring mercy and compassion to disaster survivors.

One of their major efforts is to open the Pope Francis Center for the Poor, which already sheltered evacuees during Typhoon Ruby.

FR CHRIS MILITANTE, PALO ARCHDIOCESE INFORMATION OFFICER: Kasama sa tulong na ibinigay ng Vatican ay itong Pope Francis Center, which has an orphanage, home for the elders, a clinic. Talagang magagamit ng mga biktima ng super typhoon.

(Part of the Vatican’s donation is the Pope Francis Center, which has an orphanage, home for the elders, a clinic. The victims of the super typhoon can really use this.) 

We’ll bring you more updates in the next few days as we cover the Pope’s visit from the eyes of Leyte.

Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Palo, Leyte.