By Roy Mabasa

The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) has donated Php5 million to the Quezon City government in its effort to help the less fortunate residents of the city in the face of the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte personally received the monetary donation from INC General Auditor Glicerio Santos Jr. at the INC Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City on Saturday, March 21.

As of March 21, Quezon City has the biggest number of COVID-19 cases with 44 confirmed patients, based on the statistics provided by the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force.

The INC noted that many poor city residents have been severely affected by the suspension of operations of public transportation and the temporary closure of business establishments since the government started implementing the Enhanced Community Quarantine to mitigate the spread of the virus.

This, according to the INC, prompted INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo to extend financial help to the city government.

Belmonte acknowledged that the INC donation will go a long way in extending help to the people especially at this time when the city government is short in financial resources needed to procure food, medicines, precautionary measures equipment, noting that many of the victims of the current situation are senior citizens.

“Wow, thank you! Kayo po ang pinakamaraming binigay po sa aming lungsod (You’re the biggest provider to our city),” Belmonte told the INC official.

“I’m very grateful. Please accept, from the bottom of my heart, my heartfelt gratitude to you,” she continued.

In its social media page, said: “The Church Of Christ extends its helping hand wherever and whenever it is needed. This is to uphold God’s commandment of helping our fellowmen. The Church has reached 158 countries, many of which have already been affected by the COVID-19 virus. The Church Administration strives to extend to these countries the help that they need to overcome this pandemic that is crippling the world.”