REBUILDING LIVES

In November of 2013, Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) wreaked havoc in the country with six landfalls, particularly in Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Tolosa in Leyte, Daanbantayan Island in Cebu, Conception in Iloilo and Busuanga in Palawan. Over a million houses were destroyed and over three million families were affected in ten regions, displacing about a million Filipinos.

Based on an assessment made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), 47% of 172 respondents said that they understood what a storm surge was, but failed to visualize it. To aid the affected areas in their recovery, JICA created a Land Use Plan to determine the “No Build Zones” and “Safe Zones” in Tacloban.

Humanitarian and rehabilitation missions were plotted by the government, which were supported by international agencies. 38,000 affected workers had engaged in the restoration of public and economic infrastructure through the cash-for-work program. 165 child-friendly spaces, providing psychological activities, were made available for almost 42,000 children, while 1,827 temporary learning sites were established. School supplies were given to 384,000 pre-school and school-aged children.

Currently, the Strategic Response Plan for the devastated areas requires at least 33 billion pesos. So far, the country has received 45% of the needed funding.

Ongoing projects include tapping the 33 million fallen coconut trees for shelter and livelihood. The Department of Science and Technology, together with the Habitat for Humanity and other private partners, have also joined forces to build climate-adaptive houses, which can withstand intensity-eight earthquakes and wind gusts of up to 250 kilometers per hour. In the next three years, stakeholders target to build 30,000 core houses and distribute 30,000 shelter repair kits.

In his visit to the country last December, the United Nations (UN) Secretary Ban Ki-moon inspected the decimated areas. Until now, the UN continues to assist the Yolanda survivors through UNICEF, the World Food Program and the UN Development Program.

Apart from prominent leaders, international celebrities also took the lead in spreading hope. Pop sensation Justin Bieber encouraged his fans to contribute to his campaign in exchange for the privilege of watching him record his upcoming album. Arriving on December 10 last year, the singer played basketball and sang with the children in Tacloban. Barely two months later, England’s Soccer Captain David Beckham also dropped by to visit bunkhouses and interact with the children. Beckham and his wife donated 20 boxes of second-hand clothes subject for auction through the British Red Cross in Chelsea. The proceeds would benefit the typhoon survivors.

The whole nation is working towards recovery. As the Tacloban Airport resumed operations last November, The Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) installed temporary bunkhouses while the Department of Education released over P1 million for the construction of makeshift classrooms.  Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other concerned agencies joined forces for the safe installation of electricity and other lifelines in Tacloban, where business operations and classes have already resumed.

In Metro Manila, Oplan Trabaho was mounted, meant as a job fair for the displaced survivors, who flew in free from Visayas.

Last February, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) commemorated the 100^th day of Yolanda through their Worldwide Walk for Haiyan Victims held in all ecclesiastical districts of their church. In doing so, INC had set two new world records– by having the biggest number of participants in a charity event, and by holding the longest charity walk in multiple venues in different time zones.

As the third most disaster-prone country in the world, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 cyclones a year. This is why the humanitarian community recommends preparedness planning nationwide.