MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) over the weekend ordered all units of the New People’s Army (NPA) as well its unarmed forces in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon to carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation work for millions of people whose homes and livelihood were ravaged by strong winds and rains brought by Typhoon Ompong.

In a statement posted on the website of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the CPP said that over the next days, local commands of the NPA can concentrate primarily on civic action amid the disaster even as they remain vigilant over the relentless offensive operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The Party urges the Filipino people and international humanitarian agencies to unite and extend all possible help to address the welfare of the people. It urges all democratic sectors to establish Serve the People brigades to help collect and distribute relief assistance,” the CPP said.

The CPP said the broad masses of workers, peasants, minority people, fisherfolk and other basic sectors suffer the most from the damage wrought by Typhoon Ompong.

“There is urgent need to mobilize them to carry out collective effort from the devastation and facilitate the entry and equitable distribution of all financial and material assistance,” the CPP said.

The CPP said that like in the past, the people will be burdened by rampant corruption and inefficiencies in the Philippine reactionary government whose agencies always fail to squarely address their conditions.

“Their clamor for wage increases, land distribution, cancellation of debt, agricultural subsidies, free irrigation and livelihood assistance and economic relief demand immediate attention and resolution,” the CPP said. – With Artemio Dumlao