World · Philippines Bureau
Iligan devotees seek divine intervention for city's water, waste crisis
Thousands of Catholics in Iligan City joined a procession Tuesday to honor St. Michael the Archangel, their patron saint, as the predominantly Catholic municipality grapples with persistent water shortages and waste management challenges.
LSN Philippines ·
ILIGAN CITY — The feast day of St. Michael the Archangel drew thousands of devotees through Iligan's streets Tuesday, with worshippers seeking spiritual solace even as the city confronts mounting infrastructure crises affecting its residents' daily lives.
Among the faithful was 66-year-old Lourdes Alivio from Barangay Sta. Elena, who joined the procession carrying religious statues of the archangel, a patron saint revered for his role as protector and defender in Catholic tradition.
The annual celebration underscores the deep religious faith of Iligan's predominantly Catholic population. However, the procession took place against a backdrop of serious civic concerns, with the city struggling to provide reliable water supply and manage its waste disposal effectively.
The gathering highlighted the tension between the community's spiritual devotion and the practical challenges facing Iligan's local government in delivering essential services to its residents. Water shortages and waste management issues have persisted as longstanding problems affecting quality of life in the city, prompting residents to turn to their faith during times of hardship.