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
National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA)
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.
Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. (KFI) is a nongovernmental, nonprofit, development-oriented organization established in July 1989 to respond to the widening social and economic gap and tensions between Muslims, tribal groups and Christians in central Mindanao. In its infancy, KFI worked mostly within Cotabato City in central Mindanao to facilitate interfaith dialogue and to build awareness on possibly coexisting. Later, KFI expanded its efforts to helping people improve their livelihood and providing community services to the marginalized groups in the city. KFI is a partner in CRS' agriculture and peacebuilding programs.
Kaanib Foundation
Since its inception in 1981, Kaanib Foundation has been partnering with the government and other nongovernmental organizations. Its programs include development of community-based organizations, renewable energy development, water reservoir construction, road rehabilitation and agricultural development. These partnerships aim to empower the people and raise their standard of living.
Programs
Agriculture
More than one-third of the Philippines' entire labor force is engaged in agriculture, but small-scale farmers often struggle to receive fair prices for their labor. They have little bargaining power with local traders who control access to credit and markets. Catholic Relief Services works with partners, such as the United States Department of Agriculture, to train poor farmers on how to make their crops more marketable, and ensures that they have the tools they need—like irrigation canals or bean-drying areas—to produce more. CRS also links thousands of small-scale farmers to the supply chain of leading fast-food restaurants and stores, helping growers band together to produce vegetables the market demands and sell them a higher prices.
Civil Society and Governance
In conflict areas of southern Philippines, local governance is often affected by corruption and a lack of transparency in how resources are managed. Catholic Relief Services is helping citizens take the leadership in planning development programs in their communities. Through training, Church-based organizations are grassroots organizations are playing a bigger role in determining local priorities and how the local government manages its funding.
Disaster Response
The Philippines is vulnerable to typhoons, floods and other natural disasters. Catholic Relief Services and our Church partners respond to emergencies by providing victims with urgent items like food, blankets and housing materials. In addition, CRS runs cash-for-work programs that pay survivors to remove rubble and rehabilitate flooded areas. As communities recover, CRS works with families to rebuild houses and make them stronger than before.
Peacebuilding
In the southern Philippines, ethnic tensions have led to armed conflict, internal displacement and instability for thousands of families. To reduce the suffering and poverty the conflict causes, Catholic Relief Services brings Christians, Muslims and indigenous people together to share their experiences and move toward healing.
