2nd Issue_Duyog Iligan Newsletter

8/3/2019 2nd Issue_Duyog Iligan Newsletter

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2/28

IDPs are Partners Not Just Victims

Taken from Laville Gymnasium, Tubod, Iligan

City, the photo shows a man helping to build his

temporary room in the evacuation center. This shows

his will to be part of their dramatic return to normalcy

- a central actor, not just a plain recipient in the stage

of rehabilitation and recovery.

Duyog Iligans second issue celebrates IDPs

voices in reclaiming their lives, restoring theirdignity, and rebuilding their lives. In the process of

rehabilitation and recovery, it is imperative that the

IDPs participation and decision are included in any

processes concerning about their future.


3/28

EDITORIAL

IDPs shall be

partners, notjust victims

3

It has been almost two months since

Typhoon Sendong (Washi) hit Northern Mindanao

and displaced more than half a million individuals.

When President Aquino declared state of national

calamity, international humanitarian organizations

and United Nations agencies looded the city to

provide emergency response to affected population.

Donations from local and national government,

non-government organizations and individuals

were also massive to help out the victims. Indeed,

overwhelming assistance was afforded to the

survivors. However this overwhelming assistance

has not been distributed fairly and equally to the

affected communities and in fact some communities

did not even receive any that in some instances led toserious competition and division among the affected

communities.

In Iligan City, there were regular meetings

since the onset of the disaster to map out plan on

what has to be done to address the needs of the

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and what has

transpired was the lack of participation from the

victims themselves. The IDPs active participation

might have been unintentionally neglected due to

the overwhelming damage and unforeseen impact

of Sendong. Maybe a week or two is understandable

but 50 days had passed after the disaster hit Iliganno consultation yet with the IDPs by the government

oficials has been conducted. Unintentional maybe,

however disregarding victims participation poses

a crucial and serious blow to their human right

and dignity as persons. It has to be understood

that victims situation should not make them less

of human beings even amidst the calamity just like

this.

Noble plans for the recovery and

rehabilitation of the victims were carefully tailored

but are the affected people been consulted and arethese plans what the victims needed? One thing is

for sure, the government has the capacity to consult

the victims because irst, they have the

resources both human and inancial and second,

it is their duty and responsibility. In fact their

duty includes ensuring the preparedness of the

peoples before the disaster and not just to reactto disaster. And they are paid to do that.

There was an initiative from the civil society

to gather the IDPs for consultation so that they

can represent themselves and put forward their

demands before the bodies responsible for the

recovery and rehabilitation processes. However,

it seems that some of the city oficials are reluctant

to support such initiative.

Of late however, the government has

inally launched series of consultations to theaffected communities and families. But plans

have already been made and important demands

from the IDPs would no longer be included as

important inputs in in rebuilding their lives and

determining their future thus disempowering

them as essential part of the process.

It is very revealing how the government

perceives the nature and role of the IDPs in this

very unfortunate situation. The IDPs are merely

seen as victims and therefore recipients of relief

goods and not partners who are decisive in

rebuilding their lives and future.What is clear as being stipulated in the

United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal

Displacement (UNGPID) is that, IDPs have the

right to full participation and planning and

management of their return, resettlement

and reintegration, and this remain to be only

theoretical and only belong in the piece of paper

from the point of view of those who claim to be

serious in helping the IDPs and this include no

less than the government. It is time to move now

and help in the empowerment of the IDPs. This

kind of process now will determine the kind of

future the IDPs in truly rebuilding their lives.


4/28

4

Opinion

RJ NEYRA

Plus Fifty

Days Delay

in Rebuilding

Lives

Just inches away from the Hinaplanon Bridge,

no one would not irk at the view manifested before

ones very eyes. Several families collected the shattersand debris of Sendong and formed them into a wishy-

washy miniature what they call a house. These

houses were ill-decorated with placards expressing

their unbearable discontent about their condition.

However these are just papers whose content are

not articulated into and aggregated by the center

of power. There is also a possibility that they are

now included in the propaganda of some political

organizations responsible only for heightening

and sharpening their temper but never looking for

durable solutions in helping the victims go back tonormalcy.

In Barangay Mandulog, neighboring the

river responsible for whooshing the people of Iligan

to death was a family that lives under a tree. They

managed to build a canopy out of the plastic sheet

that was handed out to them by some disaster

response organizations. Albeit a very commendable

innovation comes a worry that they are still exposed

to several vulnerabilities. Several families are also

complaining about the very limited attention given

to them.Travelling more than two hours from the

center of Iligan, you will reach Barangay Rogongon

still under the state of sinister. While approaching

the place, you could see how Sendong further

devastated the roads that were already problematic

before the disaster. Electricity is still busted and the

electric posts are leaning beside the roads. Rogongon

was victimized by landslides and the storm left an

enormous damage to agriculture. The people here

are stretching their hands, not to give but to ask for

help.

It has been more than 50 days, the mud

already turned into a convulsion of dusts. Sendong/

Washi claimed more than six hundred lives and

more than ive hundred still missing, leaving

more than a hundred thousand individuals still in

despair. The grass has grown round the survivors

feet while the responsible authorities seem to

utter lies through their teeth.

Although there have been consciouseorts directed towards uplifting the lives of the

survivors, a very important link between the IDPs

and their development is missing. There was a

lack in consulting what they want to happen to

themselves in the process of rehabilitation and

recovery. Given this, it is valid to infer that they

were shut of their rights to voice out their needs

and legitimate interests. It seems that the IDPs role

is reduced only to the level of beneiciaries and

is not regarded as partners in any development

project.

Consultation is a crucial element in the

recovery process because the authorities could not

assume whats the best for the IDPs. Furthermore,

the government is not at all times well-informed

about the concerns of the survivors. A family that

depends on ishing and farming worries about the

place where they could be relocated. A driver whose

license lowed with the gushing lood complains

that he could not drive due to the fear to be caught

by the trafic enforcers. He further recommended

that there must be a certiication from the city

government to prove that he is, indeed, a victim of

the lood.

Aside from consultation, there was also

failure to organize the survivors into a body that

will represent them in the dierent clusters.

This takes away their rights to information and

voluntary decision.

Organizing the IDPs must be done in the

early stage of disaster response but this failure

contributes widely to the apparent dissent anddistrust that they now launt to the government.

Radio commentators collected a huge amount

of complaints that are directed against the city

government. They vocally charge some oficials

with corruption. This, however, is an expected

reaction because the failure to organize the IDPs

just widened the gap between them and the

government.

So, more than ifty days had passed, and

everything seemed stable in terms of disgust and

distrust. The next days must focus to putting thesurvivors back into the limelight.


5/28

5

Opinion

CHA LAVANDERO

Collective and

not Divisive

Pursuit forJustice

For more than a month after the catastrophic

incident that took thousands of lives and displaces

families particularly in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro City,

the people are now starting to rebuild their lives, trying

to move forward for the future. The incident left an

indelible mark on the lives of the people, which made

them ponder on how and why this particular incidentwas even made possible in an area rarely visited by

storms a very general question seeking for answers,

for the truth and for justice.

Whatever options available to know the truth

the government and other organizations acted to

investigate the incident. The irst theory they have

in mind is that the logs that have swept along with

the raging waters aggravated the intensity of the

damages on the lives and on livelihoods. Believing

and even convinced that this was the main cause, the

government was prompted to do an investigation andin the process led them to the areas of Lanao del Sur.

According to the investigation, the logging operations

done in the watershed of Lanao del Sur were made

possible through the Integrated Forest Plantation

Management Agreement (IFMA), and that companies

like Vicmar Development Corporation which is

based in Makati, Timber Industries of the Philippines

Incorporated are just a few to mention companies

involved. Apparently, the actions of the government

instrumentalities targeted logging operations most of

them small time logging operators known as carabaologgers have prompted small time timber stores to

close for fears because for the past few weeks, there

had been series of raids in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

Moreover, there had been Human Rights violation

complaints concerning the raids led by the Armed

Forces of the Philippines.

The pursuit for justice for the victims of

Sendong has been the clamor of everyone, of the

government, of the dierent civil society organizations,

and even among the common people that have been

able to comprehend that all that is happening in ourenvironment was because of our reckless intervention

and misuse of the environment resources. And in

the process of seeking the truth, it seems that an

important component has been left-out. What has

transpired during the investigation resulted to the

unwanted aggravation against the peoples of Lanao

del Sur. The projection of the investigation should

target the very main reason or the root cause of

the problem. It is not the people of Lanao del Surthat is to be blamed, therefore there is no need for

vindication on the part of the Bangsamoro Civil

Society in refuting the accusations that Lanao del

Sur is to be blamed for the destruction. Although it

appears that they do not have options because the

blame had been made popular in media in prints

and in televisions. The main point is that we need

to go beyond what is supericial. It is a grave error

to generalize the blame to the peoples of Lanao

del Sur but at the same time it is very important to

expose the local politicians and warlords who madethe entry of Markati based logging irms possible to

these areas.

Therefore, we need to look into the center of

the problem and not only focus on the peripheries.

The main issue is environmental destruction that

can be made possible by logging and mining. What

made this main issue a detrimental problem on the

lives of the people that even its eect can already

be speculated is the very system that protects and

sustain the activities aggravating the destruction of

our environment.Seeking for the truth and justice is a must

and in the process of seeking for justice, we as

peoples of Mindanao, of Lanao del Sur and Lanao

del Norte should not fall prey to the blame game

scheme that could divert us to the real path to

justice. Moreover, the irresponsible and misguided

campaign and advocacies regarding the issue

will further intensify the already very crucial

relationships among the Muslims and Christians.

The eort should not be limited only to one people;

it is everybody elses duty. Thus, we need to

collectively work together in seeking for truth and

justice since, the environmental destruction issue is

not limited in the Lanao provinces only, it is all over

Mindanao, all over the Philippines and it is globally

shared concern.

The typhoon Sendong tragedy gave us

a lesson, a painful lesson that we need to think

seriously with. It also gave us the venue to widen our

comprehensions and our understanding. Moreover,

it has rekindled the value of volunteerism among

the peoples, the value of solidarity, thus in solidarity

among other peoples we need to work together

for justice to be served. Making this the venue for

collective unity, and not a mechanism for division.


6/28

6

VHONG FENIS

A Challenge

to MoveForward

As the world faces economic and political crisis,threats of the ecological crisis are also intensifying. Disasters

from one country to another mark the print and broadcast

media. These disasters can be conventionally categorized as

natural and human-made, but experts and common people

said they are caused mainly by human activities by the few

percentage of the world population which are the rich, the

oligarchs, and their institutions.The people in Northern Mindanao (Iligan and

Cagayan de Oro) and in some parts of the Visayas (Dumaguete

City) region were surprised by typhoon Sendong (Washi)

last December 16 and 17, 2012 resulting thousands deaths,

thousands still missing, and billions of properties destruction

that literally disigured the communities.

Countless helps poured in from international,

national and local donors as well as from Non Government

Organizations and government units.

In most accounts as expressed by individuals of

the whole communities aected the direct intervention

of government units were not felt in the early and mostneeded stage. More complaints on the grounds, evacuation

centers and communities of ineficiency and ineectiveness

response creating more problems and competitions among

the survivors were recorded and observed.

While Typhoon Sendong has brought so much

destruction it can also be an opportunity for creating spaces

for empowerment of the survivors in considering them as

partners in rebuilding their lives and communities towards

full recovery and development. The grandstanding of some

local personalities, organizations and agencies which

promote dole-out process and method that somehow builds

dependency to survivors rather than help them rebuild their

lives in a sustainable manner.While agencies from public and private are now busy

discussing the early recovery and rehabilitation phases even

without the participation of the survivors (of course with the

exemption of the few), it is a question still of the consideration

of the environment in its framework particularly the local

government units. Indeed, survivors must live in dignity and

fulillment of their rights as human and this should be in the

framework of ecological sustainability. Otherwise the future

will always be uncertain.

The national government has maximized the

moment of tragedy to implement viable projects for the

survivors though it is very contradictory to the existingPhilippine Mining Act, which encourages the use of

inorganic farm inputs, conversion of lands and issuances

of mining, logging and quarry permits and among other

environmentally-destructive policies and programs.

Where are we going to?

There were movements on the ground to

consolidate and organize the survivors in facilitatingtheir key role in the whole process of recovery and

rehabilitation towards total development. This is an

opportunity for empowering the survivors and a need for

them to unite and speak in one voice and action. Without

the consolidated and uniied action and agenda from the

survivors themselves, moving for a realistic and clear

solution to avoid disaster and manage it when it happens

is far from reach.

The support institutions should not act to replace

the role of the government in fulilling their duties. NGOs

and private groups must always examine the role they

played in these processes or else the government and its

personnel and agencies are useless and unnecessary. Thisis not to question the spirit of helping one another but

only to put things in proper perspective.

As the duty bearer and institutions responsible

for the masses and its people, the government must

always have in mind the framework of its programs and

services with the survivors.

The recent experience of the people in Iligan

City during the disaster was very revealing as to how

the local government had reacted especially during the

early stage of the calamity. An eective and sensitive

governance can be gauged in this trying moments. The

disaster management should not only be during the actualdisaster but before it happens. Preparing the people

before a disaster commences is very important because

peoples preparedness to handle or manage a typhoon

can save many lives. Proper management during the

actual occurrence of disaster is also of equal importance.

Its destruction can be aggravated further when people

are confused and are in panic. But timely response and

proper management of such disaster can be mitigated

to save more lives. Furthermore, the management of the

post disaster phase is of utmost importance because the

people who survive the fury of a typhoon or a lood can

still suer if no proper management will be instituted to

ensure food and other vital goods. The picking up the

pieces and rebuilding stage of the survivors should be

the most important consideration in full recovery and

rehabilitation.

In managing disaster and putting up of the

early recovery and rehabilitation programs, the role of

the survivors or the IDPs shall be decisive. No one can

substitute for this role. The international NGOs, local NGOs,

Pos and the LGUs can only help mitigate the situation of

the survivors (IDPs).

In disaster management and rehabilitation, the

survivors/IDPs are the main partners.

Opinion


7/28

7

FEATURE

Reclaiming Rights, Rebuilding Lives:

The Consultative IDP Forum in

MSU-IIT

On January 26, 2012, the Ranao Disaster

Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center

(RDRRAC) and the Ofice of the Vice-Chancellor for

Planning and Development (OVCPD) Mindanao State

University Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT)

launched a Consultative Forum on Reclaiming Rights,

Rebuilding Lives: Focus on Sendong Survivors inIligan at MSU-IIT Mini-Theater.

Participants of the forum were IDPs of Iligan,

both from home based (HB) and the Evacuation Centers

(EC). They were identiied on by their fellow survivors

during the simultaneous Iligan-wide Focus Group

Discussions (FGDs) in dierent communities and ECs

in the city. The areas were divided and handled by the

sponsoring institutions mentioned above.

The forum was jam-packed with inputs and

updates with regards to IDP concerns. On the morning

activity, Rights of the Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) was shared by the ield associate assigned in

Mindanao, High Commissioner on Refugees of UNHCR

Mr. Cli Alvarico. The CSWD representative Ms.

Perlie Mantos - CSW, was also present at the forum

and gave updates on how the agency took action after

the disaster. Ms. Gemma Dalena, a representative of

UNDP lectured on the UNDPs View of the Problem

and Probable Solutions (Durable Solutions for IDPs).

On the Camp Coordination Committee

Management (CCCM) update, the over-all chairman

Hon. Freddie Siao, informed how the management ofthe EC have been managed by the local government,

the help of International and Local NGOs was then

acknowledged during the forum proper. Other

personnels of the local government of Iligan who

graced the event was Mr. Arthur Aloro updates

on housing, the city plan on permanent relocation,

resettlement of the survivors was announced on the

forum through presenting illustration on the two

relocations in Sta. Elena and Barangay Mandulog, Iligan

City. Lastly, presentation on the consultative forum

was the Head on Economic Enterprise Iligan, former

city councilor Mr. Orlando Maglinao on the updates

on the city plan in clustering the dierent functions

in the government agencies participating

in helping the survivors. A structure that shall be

followed if approved by the City Mayor that the

presentations on the forum will be relayed and shall

be presented to the city Mayor for approval.In general, the forums objectives were to

hear and heed the voices of the IDPs, for them to

be involve in all activities concerning them (from

identifying their needs and to the durable solutions

to them up to their relocations and/or resettlement

plan). To form an ad-hoc that shall serve as a

representative of the survivors for any up-coming

meetings and events vis--vis to their needs and

concerns. Other than the objectives, the event was

venue for the consolidation of the results FGDs and

for the body to agree collectively on the reportsespecially on identifying IDPs needs.

The forum was a success indeed, attended

by more than one hundred individuals coming from

dierent institutions and (International and Local)

organizations present in Iligan, the survivors from

HBs and ECs and personnels of Local Government.

Sendong survivors appreciated the efforts

of RDRRAC and MSU-IIT (headed by Prof.

Darwin Manubag) in facilitating this

gathering and HEAR their VOICES! And inthe end, survivors were not merely victims

but partners in the true sense of the word.

ARTICLE

Khye Amerol

Survivors validate their needs during the workshop

in the consultative forum.


8/28

FEATURE Article

Looking into

DUYOG ILIGAN

Relief Team

Approaching two months since the onset of

the disaster DUYOG ILIGAN Relief and DistributionTeam has already handed out thousands of relief goods

reaching to the devastated barangays in Iligan City.

Headed by Mr. Jun Tardo, the team started its

relief distribution since December 23, 2011. They

carry with them their irm conviction to serve the

much devastated communities by adopting the Do No

Harm approach.

During an interview with him, he said, Put

it plainly, we only want to ensure that there would

be no conlict and chaos during the conduct of the

distribution. And because of this, this team hadinstalled guidelines and policies prior and during their

relief activities. Basically, what we do is to validate

the data in order to identify the beneiciaries. There

were also cases where we limited and prioritized the

beneiciaries. In instances like this, we dont distribute

in the community but locate a safer place so to avoid

aggressive reactions from the people, he added.

Data validation is deemed a very rigorous

task for the team which is conducted days prior to the

conduct of relief operations. They went to all Purok

leaders to ask the families that were aected by

the deluge. As soon as the lists were gathered some

members of the team would start to word process

the names and would individually put these names

in a claim stab. Thereafter, the claim stabs were given

back to the Purok leaders who would distribute

them to the identiied aected families.

In the actual distribution, the beneiciaries

were asked to sign in the list prepared by the team

in the registration section. They were also tasked

to return their claim stabs before proceeding to the

station where they would receive the relief goods.

Marshals were also there to secure the orderliness

of relief distribution. This was a considerably very

meticulous procedure but in the name of installing

peace and safety they were to religiously install this

system in the distribution. Matter-of-factly, during

the teams relief operation in Barangay Mandulog,they garnered all impressive compliments due to

this smooth and orderly method.

However, there were inevitable cases where

some aected families could not receive the goods

they deserve out of the failure to have them included

in the list. Out of pity and duty, DUYOG ILIGAN relief

and distribution team were true to their promise to

return and to hand out goods to them after going

through the process which had been left out.

One thing I learned from this workis patience. It is not easy to work and

serve the people who have emotional

and psychological baggages with

them, contended by Mr. Aldren Manisan, one ofthe volunteers.

There were also skills that sprang in the

process. Some volunteers showed leadership

quality that they didnt quite expect they possess.

Mr. Tardo was also quick to point out that there were

also volunteers who developed wits in confrontingoficials. The volunteers were also very organized

and had a sharp eye on their tasks. Mr. Tardo further

added that the volunteers always come up with good

outputs in every task they perform. This kind of

discovery had been realized during the assessment

which we line every relief operation and the planning

for the next operation.

So far, DUYOG ILIGAN has already distributed

relief goods to more than 6,000 households all

over the city. As goods and donations still keep on

looding in, it is expected that they will still reachseveral aected communities.

RJ Neyra

8

Duyog iligan Relief and Distribution Team validatesthe list of survivors for Barangay Lanipao.

oto by: P. Fenis


9/28

9

FEATURE Article

Reaping the Worst of Ecological

DisasterKhye Amerol

Around the globe, there has been a growing concern to

intensify the struggle for climate justice. However this signiicant

growth still is insuficient to counter the dominant culture of

neglect and denial. Even the large volumes of reliable scientiic

researches cannot amplify the fact that the earth, more than ever

before, is being heavily punctuated by this kind of cataclysm.

Quite recently, a 9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami

hit Japan and left more than 15,000 fatalities. There was not

only a uniied pity shown in this calamity but also of fear due to

the radiation leaks from the nuclear plants. A year earlier, over

a hundred thousand lives in Haiti were claimed due to the same

disaster. Aside from this, several countries also suered from

severe typhoons, looding, landslides, harsh winter, and forest

ires. So what is there to deny given all these realities?An article written by J.B. Foster exposes the harmful

implications of the further rise of the global temperature. When it

rises by 2 C, people will hardly prevent and survive from the fang

of climate change. Even ceasing to burn fossil fuels upon reaching

this temperature climate change along its lethal eects would still

be felt in the year 3000. By sum, this is very crucial because it

constitutes a point of no return.

Albeit the entire humanity was pointed culprits to this

feared phenomenon, many were resolved that climate change was

further exacerbated by the brute force and greed of capitalism.

In fact, the overwhelming rise of temperature extends back from

the Industrial Revolution, that is, during the time when capitalism

was gaining weight and popularity. This proit-oriented systems

insatiable thirst for resources has become the major reason forthe crisis in ecology as it sweeps every raw material above the

earths surface and

even launches an

extravagant expedition

below it. This ruthless

extraction, consistent

with its appetite to

overproduce, is even

intensiied by creating

faux necessities

to individuals and

further heightens

environmental abuse.

Despite this

doom, however, rich

and powerful countries

continue to display

a blind eye. The USA

which is known to be

the largest emitter

of green house gases

has still not acted to

address the problem.

In fact, it has denied to

sign the Kyoto Protocol

which was aimed at

stabilizing greenhousegas concentrations in

the atmosphere to ight

global warming. Countries such as Japan, Russia, and Canada

are now also opposed to extend Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012.

Third world countries suer more the eects of

climate change. Philippines, particularly, is continuously hit by

super typhoons and other disasters. Despite all these, capitalist

incursions continue to ravage the country. Baguio, marked as

one of the tourist centers of the country is much devastated

by mining. Palawan with all its beauty and bounty starts to be

dirtied by the same activity. But the peoples overwhelming

opposition cannot terrorize mining exploration and opposition

as it is backed up by a seemingly indestructible policy the

Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Mindanao was not also immuned as far as these harsh

activities are concerned since it also subject to quarrying aswell as mining and logging concessions. Majority of lands in

the Compostela Valley are now declared uninhabitable due to

mining. Evident to this is the landslide occurring at the start of

2012 that killed 25 people and more than 150 missing. Midsalip

Mountain Range situated at the heart of Zamboanga and marked

as a key biodiversity area of the country is now being wrecked

by mining.

Certainly, Sendong didnt only leave a huge scar to

all of us. Its massive and dramatic deaths should not only be

included in the statistics of mortality. Is should remind us of a

more upgraded occurrences disasters to come. Everyone should

now act before we reach the point of no return and that is if we

are not yet there. . .


10/28

UPDATES

IDPs nanguna sa

pagpahigayon sakonsultasyon

M.L. MANDAR

Pebrero 6, 2012 sa mga 10:00 sa buntag,

gipahigayon ang pinakaunang konsultasyon tali sa

mga bakwit ug local nga gobyerno sa Siyudad sa Iligansukad nga nahitabo ang dakong baha dala sa Bagyong

Sendong. Gipangunahan kini sa mga bakwit nga anaa

nagpuyo sa sulod sa Luinab Elementary School nga

gikan sa Upper Hinaplanon ug kadtong mga apektadong

pamilya nga padayong nagpuyo sa ilang mga panimalay

sa nasangpit nga lugar.

Anaa usab ang representante gikan sa opisina

sa mayor sa Iligan nga si Ms. Agnes Maingat kauban ang

City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD)-District

5 nga si Ms. Delia Padro.

Ang katuyuan sa konsultasyon mao ang

paghatag og impormasyon sa mga apektadongkatawhan sa Upper Hinaplanon ilabib na

sa mga naanod ang mga balay sa mamahimong

dagan sa ilang pagbalhin og puluy-anan gikan sa sulod

sa mga lugar bakwitanan o evacuation center. Dugang

pa niini, ang konsultasyon nagtinguha nga ma-inal ang

listahan sa partially damaged ug totally damaged nga

puluy-anan.

Matod pa ni Ms. Agnes Maingat, wala pa

gayud pinal nga guidelines para sa shelter assistanceug kini kamulo pang ginapanday sa City Government

tungod kay ang gihatag nga guidelines sa Department

of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) dili haom

sa sitwasyon sa mga benepisyaryo diri sa lokal. Ang

guidelines pagahimuon sa Iligan City Social Welfare

and Development (CSWD) ug City Governmennt bisan

paman walay pinal nga guidelines aduna nay nalatid nga

mga pasiuna nga giya para sa pagpili sa mga kwalipikado

nga benepisyaryo.

Kinsa ang prayoridad nga makadawat

sa shelter assistance o mabalhin sa

relokasyon?

Ingon si Ms. Maingat nga ang mga katawhan nga

nakasulod sa mga sumusunod nga order of priority mao

maunang mahatagan og pagtagad sa relokasyon:

1.) Pamilya nga anaa nagpuyo sa nga gi-deklara

sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR)-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) nga

danger zone. Sa pagkakaron, tulo (3) pa lamang ka

barangay ang gisusi sa MGB, mao ang Brgy. Santiago,

Santa Filomena ug Hinaplanon.

2.) Pamilya nga naguyo sa no build zone o katong

lugar nga dili gayud tugutan sa gobyerno nga patindugan

og mga building o balay tungod sa risgo. Lakip ani nga

mga lugar mao ang ilalom sa tulay, daplin sa suba ug

daplin sa dagat.

3.) Pamilya nga adunay totally damaged nga balay

nga anaa nahimutang sa safe-zones (luwas sa disgrasya

nga lugar)

4.) Pamilya nga nawadan o namatayan og

myembro.

Dugang pa, ang mga pamilya nga totally washed out,

naa sa danger zone ug no build zones ang mga balay,

adunay kagawasan nga dili mopuyo sa relokasyon basta

adunay kabalhinan nga luna nga layo sa risgo o sa unsa

mang natural nga katalagman ug sila adunay madawat

nga inancial assistance para sa pagtukod sa ilang

mga balay. Ang totally washed out nga naa sa safe zones

makadawat og hinabang nga 50,000 pesos ug 60,000para sa kadtong pamilya nga nagpuyo sa daplin sa suba

ug dagat , ug mga lugar nga gideklara nga no build zones

ug danger zones.10

John Montilla (tuo nga bahin) myembro sa Iligan

Survivors Movement nangutana kabahin sa

Relokasyon nga isyu.


11/28

11

IDPs mobilize for representationMatet Norbe

In pursuing the

participatory and consultative

humanitarian response

to Sendong survivors and

Internally-Displaced Persons

(IDPs), the interim group from

the IDP Consultative Forum held

last January 26, 2012 gathered

at the College of Arts and Social

Sciences of the Mindanao State

University-IIT to discuss theneed for representation in the

decision-making processes

with regards to planning and

implementation of early recovery

and rehabilitation programs

of both government and non

government agencies.

The small group

is composed of eleven

representatives coming from seven urban as wellas coastal areas identiied to temporarily lead the

formation of an IDP advocacy group which they

decided to call Iligan Survivors Movement (ISM)

which will be composed of all IDPs in Iligan City.

The movement will particularly aim to lobby for

representation in the Humanitarian Response

Clusters led by the government with partnership

from United Nations organizations as well as non-

government organizations. These are the clusters

of (1) Camp Coordination and Camp Management,

(2) Shelter, (3) Livelihood, (4) Water, Sanitation

and Hygiene or WASH, and (5) Women and Child

Protection.

The formation of the Iligan Survivors

Movement was brought about by the indings of the

IDP Consultative Forum which saw the imbalanced

distribution of relief and assistance where most

home-based survivors were left out; the outpour

of relief and assistance from non-government

organizations and international non-government

organizations vis-a-vis that of local governmentsupport; information gap between the government

and the IDPs on shelter and relocation issues as

well as other top-level decisions that led to IDPsdeining themselves as just but victims who only

receive relief and assistance without considering

also their voices in the decision-making regarding

their present as well as future needs.

Ma. Gittel Saquilabon of the Duyog Iligan:

Tri-People Solidarity for Sendong Survivors of

the Ranaw Disaster Response and Rehabilitation

Assistance Center (RDRRAC), one of the agencies

facilitating the empowerment of Sendong IDPs

in the city shared that the organization togetherwith the MSU-IIT Ofice of the Vice Chancellor

for Planning and Development and the College

of Art and Social Sciences is glad that inally

the IDPs have started organizing themselves to

push for and assert their agenda with the proper

decision-making bodies so that they themselves

can have a voice and participation in their early

recovery and rehabilitation, stages in rebuilding

their lives.

Interim group of Iligan Sendong survivors discussing

future representation and participation


12/28


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17/28


18/28

Updates

DA Sec Addresses

Food-relatedDisaster Woes

Matet Norbe

Secretary Prospero J. Alcala together with

the Regional Director and local government oficials

met with the Alliance of Sustainable Agriculture

Practitioners (ASAP), a convergence of Non-Government Organizations and Peoples Organizations

in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, and Misamis Occidental

on February 2, 2011 at the MSU-IIT Cooperative function

hall. They discussed the possible engagement with

the Department of Agriculture in the implementation

of the Rehabilitation Program to Sendong (Washi)-

aected agricultural sector in hinterlands and coastal

areas of Iligan City.

ASAP presented their identiied subjects for

future engagements like farm tools and equipment

assistance; technology assistance in diversiied

integrated farming system, post-harvest handling

technology and marketing; farm inputs; livestock

and poultry replacement; aqua- isheries support;

comprehensive agro-forestry and watershed

management; and clearing and repair of access roads

to sixteen agricultural areas in the hinterlands as

well as in the coastal areas. These areas include but

not limited to the barangays of Mandulog, Lanipao,

Dulag, Panoroganan, Kalilangan, Mainit, Rogongon,

Digkilaan, Bonbonon, Tipanoy, Abuno, Pugaan,

Santiago, Hinaplanon, Sta. Felomina, and Tambacan.

ASAP members already initiated immediate responseto the needs of the farmers in some of these areas but

inancial constraints limited the groups

intervention.

As a response, the Secretary assured his departments

support and cooperation in bringing about

rehabilitation mechanisms to ensure the early aswell as sustainable recovery of the citys agricultural

areas and sectors. A public-private-CSO partnership

is on the wrap with a planning meeting which will

be held on February 3, 2011 with the Department of

Agriculture and ASAP.

Meanwhile, the Secretary urged the

civil society organizations to continue being

the watchdogs on logging, mining, and other

environmentally-destructive activities for the

mitigation of climate change.

The forum on agriculture rehabilitation plan

was mainly facilitated by the Pailig Development

Foundation, Inc. with the support of other

ASAP members Ranaw Disaster Response and

Rehabilitation Assistance Center (RDRRAC, Inc.),

Sumpay Mindanao, Inc. ,Panaghugpong sa mga Mag-

uuma ug Kabus sa Kabanikanhan alang sa Kausaban,

Inc.(PASAKA), Kalipunan ng mga Maliliit na

Magniniyog sa Pilipinas (KAMMPIL), Comprehensive

Agrarian Reform Federation of Misamis Occidental

(CAFEMO), Barangay Inagongan Farmers Association

(BIFA), Iligan City Agri-Fisheries Council (ICAFC),

Social Action Center (Iligan), Lanao Alliance ofHuman Rights Advocates (LAHRA), and Ecosystems

Work for Essential Beneits, Inc. (ECOWEB).

More than a month after Typhoon Sendong (Washi) hit the city, the Philippine Department

of Agriculture inally addresses the plight of farmers and isherfolks whose primary source

of livelihood was gravely-devastated by the calamity.

14

Sec. Alcala emphasizing DA-CSO partnership in

agricultural rehabilitation plan for Sendong-hit agri areas


19/28

Dahil sa napahiwatig na pangangailangansa serbisyong psychosocial para sa mga

biktima ng Bagyong Sendong ay nagkaroon

ng isang Psychosocial Training na ginanap

sa Cooperative Union of Iligan City Training

Center, IISHAI, Suarez, Iligan City noong

Enero 20-22, 2012.

Ang nasabing okasyon ay naging matagumpay sa

pagtutulungan ng tatlong grupo, ang University of Santo

Tomas Graduate School Psychotrauma Clinic (UST-GPC),Religions for Peace at Ranaw Disaster Response and

Rehabilitation Assistance Center (RDRRAC), Inc. Mahigit

pitumpu (70) ang dumalo sa nasabing pagsasanay na

nagmula pa sa ibat ibang lugar ng Iligan City at lalawigan

ng Lanao del Norte.

Ang layunin nito ay upang matulungan ang mga

partisipante na matuto tungkol sa wastong proseso ng

psychosocial debrieing. Ayon sa mga lektyurer na sina

Ms. Amor Mia H. Arandia, Mr. Rodel P. Canlas, at Ms.

Maria Kristina S. Alfonso ay dalawa lang ang kailangan

na matutunan ng mga partisipante, ito ang tungkol sa

Critical Incident Stress Debrieing (CISD) at PsychologicalFirst Aid (PFA). Ang CISD ay isang proseso upang

mahadlangan o mapahina an gang paglubha ng

PSYCHOTRAUMA

TRAINING

Omar Hadjisoco

Post-Traumatic Stress ng mga taong mula sa lubhang

hindi kanais-nais na kaganapan. Ito ay nakakatulong

sa pag-cope with o pag-recover mula sa epekto ng

kanilang karanasan.

Ang CISD ay nakakatulong din upang ipaintindi

at mapabatid na hindi sila nag-iisa at sila ay mabigyan

ng espasyo at pagkakataon na maibahagi ang kanilang

iniisip o naramdaman sa loob ng isang kontrolado o

ligtas na lugar.

Samantalang ang PFA naman ay angpagbabahagi ng tulong at kaginhawaan sa biktima,

pagtulong upang maging bahagi ang pamilya sa

pagtrotekta mula sa mga maari pang dumating na

panganib, at iba pa.

Pagkatapos ng mahabang talakayan ay

nagkaroon ng mga pagsasanay, na siyang nagbigay

sa mga lumahok ng ideya kung paano isagawa ang

CISD at PFA. Unang hakbang ng mga lektyurer ay

pinaupo ang mga partispante ng maayos at matuwid,

nagkaroon ng meditation session na kung saan ito ay

nakakapagparelaks na siyang magbibigay ginhaha

sa kanilang isipan at katawan para maisagawa ngmaayos ang kanilang CISD at PFA. Matapos ang lahat ay

sinimulan ang pagtatanong na siyang pinangunahan ng

mga lektyurer para makita at masaksihan kung paano

isinasagawa ang CISD at PFA. Ang mga katanungan

ay madali lang, bumabasi lamang ito sa mga nakita at

nasaksihan nung mangyari ang delubyo.

Para mas maintindihan at magkaroon ng

karanasan sa pagsagawa ng CISD at PFA ay pumili

ang mga facilitator ng labinlimang (15) partisipante

na siyang magsasagawa ng initial CISD at PFA sa

mga nabiktima ng Typhoon Sendong. Ang lugar napinuntahan na kung saan magsasagawa ng hands-on

CISD at PFA sa Barangay Tubod isa sa mga nasalanta ng

bagyong Sendong.

15

Pagsasanay ng mga partisipante na lumahok sa

Psychosocial Training.


20/28

Updates

Humanitarian Organizations at Work:

Intensifying Iligan Relief Assistance

Matet Norbe

While its been almost two months since typhoon

Sendong devastated most of the communities in Iligan

City and many of the survivors have now returned to

their homes from evacuation centers, relief and assistance

continues as Duyog Iligan: Tri-People Solidarity for

Sendong Survivors volunteers deliver food as well as non-

food items to various aected villages.

Partnering with the Humanitarian Resource

Consortium (HRC), Plan International, Save the Children,Coalition of Licensed Agencies for Domestics and Service

Workers (CLADS), the Ranaw Disaster Response and

Rehabilitation Assistance Center (RDRRAC) reached out to

aected residents of Iligan City.

Following the home-based distribution in Brgy.

Tibanga, Brgy. Ubaldo Laya and Brgy. Bagong Silang on

January 17, 2011, the relief and distribution team reached

out to two (2) evacuation centers and eight (8) communities

which have a total of one thousand three hundred fourteen

(1,314) evacuation center-based as well as home-based

households from January 23, 2011 to February 5, 2012.

Evacuation CentersThe Laville Evacuation Center in Brgy. Tubod,

with 54 families, is the adopted evacuation camp of the

RDRRAC-Duyog Iligan since December 26, 2011; catering

to the needs of the evacuees by engaging them as partners

in putting up mechanisms of camp management. These

mechanisms ensure proper delivery of relief goods and

services by various donors. Through the partnership

with the Humanitarian Resource Consortium (HRC),

Plan International, Save the Children, Coalition of

Licensed Agencies for Domestics and Service Workers

(CLADS), the relief and distribution team was able to

deliver one hundred ten (110) packs consisting of

hygiene kit, lashlight, malong, bath and detergent

soaps, bathing and cooking materials on January 23,

2012.Meanwhile, forty-eight (48) households

catered at the Ubaldo Laya evacuation center were

given sleeping mat, blanket and mosquito nets from

the Integrated Pastoral Development Initiative (IPDI);

lash lights, malong, bath soap and laundry soap from

Plan International.

Home-BasedMost of the served Internally-Displaced

Persons were home-based in their communities or

those who have returned from evacuation centers to

start rebuilding their lives since the typhoon hit the city.Since most of the relief operations focused primarily in

the evacuation areas, the RDRRAC-Duyog Iligan decided

to address also the staggering needs of the home-based

survivors as well.

A total of one hundred and three (103)

households in Purok Manuang, Ubaldo Laya; seven

hundred seventy-eight (778) households in Purok 1,

Purok Orchids, Purok 2-A, Purok

2-B, and Purok 4-A of Brgy. Santiago;

one hundred ninety-seven (197)

households in Brgy. Mahayahay and

seventy-eight (78) households inPurok Orchids, Brgy. Santiago.

Pursuing a rights-based

approach in relief and rehabilitation

assistance, the Ranaw Disaster

Relief and Rehabilitation Assistance

Center (RDRRAC) through its

Duyog Iligan campaign continues

to gain support and partnership

from humanitarian organizations

as well as the local government unit

to ensure proper distribution of

goods and services to the aectedcommunities.

16

Relief distribution Team represented by Jocelyn Bungcal(center) reviews documents for distribution.


21/28

17

Updates

Tambacan Barangay

Ofcials walked out

during the consultationIrish Pasco

Barangay Oficials of Tambacan, Iligan City, headed by

Hon Celso Ponce with his 7 active council members conducted

an expanded special session in Tambacan Elementary School

Gymnasium last February 8, 2012. The said session is specially

participated with 78 in house Internally displaced families, Emmie

Collado from CSWD, one representative from HRO and a faculty

from the school. The session was for the purpose of consulting

the Internally displaced families regarding the newly approved

Barangay Resolution.

Barangay Resolution

The barangay resolution is to relocate and or transfer

the in house families of the Tambacan Elementary School ground

to Purok 4A excluding the renter and the sharer. According to the

Barangay oficials, this resolution will enable the construction of

temporary shelter with the help of Gawad Kalinga in Purok 4A at

Mac Michael lot with a total land area of 1,700 square meter which

is near to the sea shore. Accordingly, barangay oficials will install

water, electricity, temporary kitchen and fence the area to safe guard

the IDPs.

The resolution underwent a productive debate among the

council members. Two out seven members of the council prefer not

to vote for its creation. For the two council member, they feared thatthe IDPs could not avail the daily supply of food from the CSWD and

the obviously barangay has no longer fund to sustain the IDPs as it

already spent its calamity fund. Secondly, the proposed site is near

the seashore which is somehow not too safe.

But majority of the barangay council members considered

that the presence of the IDPs in the school hampers the peaceful

environment of the students. The playgrounds are being converted

into temporary shelter. The principal also reported to the barangay

oficials that Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) are messing around,

engaged into gambling which he considers as not a good example

for the students and the untimely removal of smelly portalets is

disturbing for them. Further, the graduation is approaching and

they demand for huge space for students rehearsal.

IDPs/Survivors Stance

The evacuation center is managed by the City Social Welfare

and Development (CSWD) who usually attend to the survivors in the

camp 12 to 24 hours a day. While the barangay oficials seldom

showed themselves to the area nor support the immediate needs

of survivors. The remaining in 78 house families is composed of

owners and renters/sharer. Musa, a member of Iligan Survivors

Movement and the Purok 2B leader of the same barangay, who

also help the management of the camp said, we maintain the

cleanliness of the surroundings, and avoid any unruly behavior

because we are inside the school. And he strongly refused toadmit the accusation of the teachers.

He added, We will not transfer to the area the

barangay oficials are suggesting because it is not yet assessed

by the right agency whether it is safe zone or not. Some of the

IDPs who used to live in the riverbanks have still trauma of what

happened to them during the Typhoon. By doing so, it is like

they are exposing us to risk once again.

The consultation paves the way for the survivors to

organize and unite themselves in the name of their plight. Their

belief that they can be relocated to a safer place push them to

stand and defend their rights.

The approved barangay resolution without prior

consultation is a culpable violation of their rights as IPD which

is stipulated in the United Nations Guiding Principles on InternalDisplacement (UNGPID), IDPs have the right to full participation

and planning and management of their return, resettlement and

reintegration.

Thus, as IDPs altogether clapped their hands, they

unanimously agreed not to transfer nor to be relocated to the

proposed site of the barangay oficials.

A glimpse of Exchanges and Learnings

The exchanges of the barangay oficials and the

survivors did not go well as expected. For the survivors, it did

not give a chance for them to be heard as well as them giving a

choice to plan for their future.

The hasty passage of the resolution was due to a copy of

minutes of the meeting they believed to come from the Housing

and Resettlement Ofice (HRO). The brangay oficials were in a

dilemma upon seeing that aected families of their barangay

were not among the top priority who could be relocated to the

relocation site in Santa Elena. However, this copy of minutes was

later found out not from the HRO but from the meeting of the

Shelter Cluster that destroyed the argument and the urgency of

the resolution of the barangay council.

Emilia Collado, the CSWD in charged in Tambacan

Evacuation Center, contradicted further the argument of the

barangay oficials when she gave her explanation on the issue.

She said that the in-house or those families living inside the

evacuation camp could still be accommodated in Sta. Elena

because the estimated number of houses to be built in suchrelocation site is greater than the number of families staying

inside the evacuation center at the present time.

One of the unforgettable line belted out by Brgy.

Captain Ponce, we are not forcing you, but if you dont transfer

to our proposed relocation site, the barangay will no longer help

you. Mrs. Collado will take charge of your relocation. After that

being ignored by the people, barangay oficials amended the

resolution that the barangay will no longer attend to the needs

of the evacuees and after that they walked out.

As the barangay captain with ive (5) council members

walked out in the middle of the consultation having not gain

the popular vote on their imposed resolution, signiies the

beginning that the government oficials should try to listen the

voice of their constituents.

Barangay Chairman Celso Ponce of Brgy. Tambacan is

showing the Council resolution to the IDPs.


22/28

Updates

18

CAMP MANAGEMENT

SA LAVILLE

GYMNASIUM

Omar Hadjisocor

Ang city government ay nagpatawag ng konsultasyon

ng mga local NGOs, International NGOs at ibat-ibang agencies.

Ang agenda ng nangyaring pagpupulong ay tungkol sa Adopt

a Camp at ipalawak at magbuo ng Camp Management, itoay tatawaging Camp Coordination and Camp Management

Committee (CCCM) for Disaster Response na pinamunuan

ni City Councilor Frederick Siao. Sa pamamagitan ng Ranaw

Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center,

Incorporated o RDRRAC ay nagdeklara noong ika-disyembre

ng 26, 2011 na sila ang mangangasiwa sa mga evacuees

ng Mangga Elementary School na ngayon ay nasa Laville

Gymnasium.

Sa simula ay hindi naging malinaw kung ano talaga

ang Adopt a Camp, hindi na nagkaroon ng pagkakaisa sa

ibig sabihin nito. Kapag sinabing adopt dapat naka-pokus

ang isang agency sa napiling camp, na dapat tutok ka sa

pangangasiwa sa evacuation center, pero sa napansin ngRDRRAC ay sila lang ang totally focus sa nasabing camp. At

sa camp area naman ay ang RDRRAC mismo ang nakikitang

lutang na lutang sa pangangasiwa ng camp kumbaga siya

ang utak ng lahat.

Ang Camp Management ay binubuo ng istruktura

na kabilang dito ang RDRRAC, CSWD Sta at ang DSWD

Camp Manager. Sa simulat simula ang RDRRAC ang naging

tulay upang matulungan ang mga CSWD sta na mamahala

sa evacuation center. Sila din ang nanguna sa pag-proseso

ng mga papeles na kinakailangang matapos dahil sa mga

pangangailangan ng mga biktima ng sendong, ang mga

nasabing kailangan na ma-proseso ay ang pagkumpuni ng

mga cubicle rooms para sa mga biktima, water supply parasa kanilang inumin, portalets (Portable Toilets) para sa

urinary concern and waste disposal, pagkain para sa pang-

araw-araw, at iba pa.

Ang RDRRAC din ang naging dahilan para makipag-

coordinate sa BLGU, at sa iba pang agency para mapadali

ang pag-responde sa mga biktima ng Barangay Tubod.

Nakita din ang mga naging improvements ng Laville Gym na

siyang nakapagpasaya sa mga biktima, andiyan ang nabuong

kitchen area, portalets, paliguan at child friendly space para

sa mga bata. Ayon na rin sa sinabi ng CSWD sta na si Ms.

Annalou Barrientos ay kung hindi daw sa RDRRAC hindi rin

maganda ang takbo ng camp, at dahil sa RDRRAC daw ay

mas naging madali ang mga proseso sa mga kinakailanganna mga papeles.

Hindi rin magiging madali ang trabaho ng mga

RDRRAC Sta kung wala diyan ang presence ng mga CSWD

Sta and Voluteers, bagamat sa pag-intake lang at proiling

sila nakatutok ay malaki na rin ang tulong nila, sila ang

24/7 na nakatutok sa mga biktima at habang mahimbing na

natutulog ang mga evacuees, sila ay nakadilat ang mga mata

upang masiguro ang security ng bawat-isa.

Mayroon din mga naging gaps ang camp

management isa na dito ang limitadong koneksyon ng

CSWD Sta sa kanilang district supervisor na siyang hindi

maganda dahil hindi nakakarating sa tamang opsiyal ang

mga problemang kinakaharap ng camp management.

Halimbawa narin dito ang mga konting conlict sa pagitan ng

mga evacuees, ngunit madali rin naman itong masolusyunan

ng camp management.

Ang naging papel din ng mga evacuees ay naging

madali lang dahil narin sa kanilang kooperasyon at respeto.

Naging madali ang pangangasiwa sa camp dahil sa simula

pa lang naitinakda na ang mga patakaran sa camp. Isa lang

ang nakikita ng RDRRAC sa mga biktima kailangan nila

ang suporta ng mga emergency responders, volunteers at

mga NGOs na matulungan sila. Lalo nat kailangan nila ng

relocation site, livelihood, at pagkain. Lahat ng mga biktima

ng Sendong ay kitang-kita naman na kailangan nila ng

kalinga ng isang kamay, na tapat at handang tumulong sa

kanila.

Arlieto Berlan, RDRRAC Camp Manager is meeting the

IDP leaders of Laville Gymnasium.


23/28

19

Conversations with Some

Survivors in Mandulog

Ching Borres

WhilewaingforthestartoftheGroundBreakingCeremonyof KAPUSO Village in Barangay Mandulog, DUYOG ILIGAN team

managedtoengageintofewdialoguestotworesidentsandsurvivorsof

theood.Theysharedallthehardshipstheyhadbeenthroughinorder

tosurvivefromthedelugewhichtheythoughtcouldhavekilledthem.

Belowistheirownshareofthestory.

CouncilorSangkayMaruhomofBarangayMandulog,IliganCity

OnthenightofDecember16,2011at11:00intheevening,

heheardaveryunusualnoisefromtheriverliketherewassomekindof

stonecrashing.Becausetheirhousewaslocatedneartheriver,hewent

outsidetocheck.Anduponseeingthewaterlevel,ithadrisenveryfast

andoverowedto theground.In justamaerofminutesthewater

levelhadreachedkneedeep.Heimmediatelydecidedtogooutsidethe

housetocheckonhismothershousebuthestruggledtogooutsidefor

thereasonthatthedoorwasbeingpushedbackbythestrongwater

currentthatalreadygotinsidethehouse.Whathedidwastopushhard

thedoorinordertogetout.

As he approached his mother s house he noced that the

waterlevelwasalreadyonhishipinaspanofaminute.Rightthen

andtheretheydecidedtovacatetheareatogetherwiththeirneighbors

crossingtotheoppositesideoftheriverpassingthroughthebridge.A

largevolumeofwaterslappedthebridgebuttheywereabletomanage

toreachtheothersideoftheriverwithmorethan20otherfamilies.

Theyallstayedinaconcretehousehardlybelievingtheyweresllalive.

Onthefollowingday,atthecrackofdawn,theywereterried

upon seeing that the enrehousesofPurok 2and Purok17 had all

vanished.TheonlystructurethatwaslewastheirMosque.

What do you think is the cause of the ood? Therewasahugebuhawibecausethewaterfromtheriver

spilledouttomorethan200metersfromtheriverbanks.

What was the barangays response to the tragedy?

Weconductedanemergencymeengandmade iniaves

becausetherewerenoassistancegiventotheareaforthrreedays.The

councilhaddecidedtoborrow30sacksofricefromBigasanfromour

womenorganizaon.

WetriedtoseekassistancefromDSWDbutwewereunhappy

oftheirsystem.Theywouldnotreleasegoodswithoutrecommendaons

from theareacoordinatorofDistrict5whereMandulogis apartof.

In sum, there were more assistance coming from dierent NGOs,

UN organizaons, and private instuons than from our own local

government.

Were the needs of IDPs answered?

Atpresent,theIDPsreallyneedfood,clothing,andshelterto

familieswithtotallydamagedhousesandthesewerenotfullyanswered

yet.Mostofthefarmswereseverelydamaged;wecannotplowbecause

ofthedebris.Theseneedtobeclearedrst.Mostofthefarmanimals

alsodied.Asofnowwereallyneedalivelihoodandfarmtoolsaswellas

workinganimals.What were the lessons learned from the tragedy?

TherewasnoDisasterDrill conductedinthearea.Weneed

trainingonsurvivaland rst aid for the people tobe prepared. We

wishtohavetheriverdredgeandifpossiblethegovernmentmusttake

aconsagainstreleasingofpermitstosandquarrying.Itisveryrampantinthearea

Werealizedthat it isnotsuitabletobui ldhousesnearthe

river. Aside fromthat, wewillencourage ourbrothersand sisters to

stopcungtreesbecauseitisoneofthemajorcausesofdestrucon.

SomepeoplepassedtheblametotheCreator.Forme,ourCreatorloves

usforheprovidedalltheresourcesandassignedtheresponsibilityto

humanbeingstotakecareofthem.Butwemismanagedandabusedour

environment.

How cooperave and supporve are the community if some

organizaons will provide assistance?

Wewelcomeandarewillingtocooperateinanyacviesthat

willbenetourpeople.Weareallthankfulforanyopportunitytohelpus

inrebuildingourlives.

Dialogue with Mrs. Loida Koka

LoidaKoka, 44yearsof age, is also asurvivor of Typhoon

Sendong and a resident of Purok 13, Barangay Mandulog, Iligan

City. During the interview Loida cried as she shared their terrifying

experience.

OntheaernoonofDecember16,2011uponhearingabout

thenewsthatSendongwillhitMindanao,theyhadnocedthechangein

weather.Ataround12:00midnight,hersonsawthewaterhadreached

atkneelevelandgotintothehouse.Shewasreluctanttoleavethehouse

becauseshewasworriedaboutthesafetyoftheiranimals.

Herhusbandforcedhertoleavebecausethelevelofwater

alreadyrisentotheirhips.Thatmesheisalreadyconvincedthattheir

animalswerealreadydead.Shedecidedtoleaveandmanagedtoinform

theirneighborstovacatethearea.Theyusedtheirairbedtotransport

the children to a safer place and she carried along with her their

importantdocumentsbutforgottobringtheirmoneytheygainedfrom

sellingowers.Theydidnotexpectittohappenthatfastandtodestroy

alltheirbelongings,leavingthemnothingbutashadowofdevastaon.

How did the tragedy aect you?

I am troubled and saddened of the devastaon that took

awayourbelongings,ourlivelihoodwhichisowerfarm,andkilledour

animals(cow,goatandchicken).Icannotacceptthefactthatinthat

instanteverythingwehaveinvestedforsomanyyearswaswipedoutbytheood.ButdespiteofitallIamsllthankfulbecauseweareallalive.

I havenocedthatI haveirregularbowelmovementsdueto

tension.Everymethereisrain,whetherlightorheavy,Ihaveanuneasy

feeling.Aertheoodmysondecidedtostopfromgoingbackschool.

HehadwitnessedhowtheoodwipedoutourlivelihoodbutIdidnot

allowhimtostop,ItoldhimwewillndwayswithGodshelp.

What do you think is the cause of the ood? I thinkitwastheactofnature,theloadsoflogsthatswept

theareacamefromtheforest;weevensawamonkeyontopofthelogs.

Itisundeniablethatthosecamefromtheforest.Anothercauseisthe

presenceofsandquarryandcrasher.

What have you learned from the tragedy?

Weshouldbemoreawareandwatchful everymethere is

typhoon.Wedidnotancipateitwillhappenbecauseourhouseisfar

fromtheriverbuttheoodsllreachedourarea.

What are your other needs?

School supplies for children and l ivelihood for every family

sowecanstartrebuildingourlives.Wecannotdependalwaysonthe

externalhelpandaids.Wewouldalsowelcomeskillstrainingandtraining

relatedtoecology.Weappealtothedonorsandtothegovernmentto

provideuslivelihoodassistance.

How cooperave and supporve is your community will be if some

organizaons will provide assistance? Wewil lsupportany iniavesas longas itwillbenetthe

aectedpeople.


24/28

2020

Figure Matters

List of Donors as of February 10 2012

Save the Children, Globe Telecom, Cotabato Network , KASAMAKA, CONZARRD and People from Zamboanga delSur, Duyog Tri-people Youth Organization, Purok from Barangay Maria Christina, Samahan ng Magsasaka at

Mangigisda sa Sigayan and Barangay Sigayan, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, People from Municality of Parang, IRA511,

St. Martin, de Porres Parish, Easter Joy School, Pro-ARMM, Mt. Carmel Parish, and Rev. Fr. Joselito Borja, Ayala

Business Club, Peoples Organization from Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte , Integrated Pastoral

Development, Inc, University of the Philippines Center for Social Work & Community Development (UP CSWCD),

Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP)

and Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Inc., UNHCR and CFSI, Akbayan and UNILAB, Medical Action

Group (MAG), National Acupuncture and Detoxification Association, Humanitarian Response Consortium,

Integrated Rural Development Foundation, Inc., AKMK Caraga Cluster, Senators Pia and Allan Peter Cayetano,

Apo Ranaw and Amerol Family, Cong. Varf Belmonte, Coalition of Licensed Agencies for Domestics and Service

Workers (CLADS) , Plan International, Dr. Emie Tubias, Phd, Dr. Malou Pacubas, Dr. Romulo Ybiernas, M.D., UST

Psychosocial Clinic

Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS) donated, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), KASAMAKA,

CONZARRD and People from Zamboanga del Sur, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA),

Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency Employees Association (PEA) and Director, Alyansa ng

Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK) MagCot, Dr. Erlinda Senturias, VSO Bahaginan and Mindanao

Peace Partners, Puok 8 from Barangay Maria Christina, KALASAG Foundation, Mary Theresa Conway and her

friends, Alex de Jong, Maurits Maas , Susan Caldwell, Yanick Matteau, Genevieve Talbot, Mary Therese Norbe ,

Josein Steenbergen, Nexus Travel and Tours, Integrated Pastoral Development, Inc, Europe Solidaire Sans

Frontires, Rufina Food Manufacturers (RFM), Humanitarian Response Consortium, Development & Peace

Canada, Entraide et Fraternite, Vhong and Goldy Fenis, Ching Borres, Ms. Ibrahim, Partnership of Philipine

Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA), Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM) and its secretariats

RDRRAC Financial Update

InKind(GoodsandLabor)

InCash

The total amount of cash

donaons received by Ranaw

Disaster Response and Rehabilitaon

Assistance Center (RDRRAC), Inc. is

Php 3,170,598.21 and below is how

it is spent.

1.) Relief Operaon

Cost covers

markeng, hauling,

packing, data

validaon and

actual distribuon.

This is 63% of the

total expenses.

2.) Operaonal Cost

includes volunteers

transportaon, food

and allowances,

communicaon and

oces supplies. This

takes the 31% of the

total expenses.

3.) Campaign and

Advocacy comprises

consultave

forums, focus

group discussions,meengs and

publicaon of

The chart shows the percentage of cash donaons

RDRRACreceivedfromdierentpartofplacesintheworld

tohelpoutthevicmsofTyphoonSendonginIliganCity.

educaonal materials. This makes up the remaining 6%

of the total expenses.

For the relief goods distribuon of RDRRAC

and for the places or locaon where the goods were

distributed.

, Jakob

Wedemeijer


25/28

Testmonial

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nrnaslsreynSndn.

Mga Testimonya sa Pipila ka mga DUYOG

ILIGAN Volunteers

An-an Chuy

Aldren Paul

Max Junjun

Rex

Rodel

Jerbee

Ang akong maingon base sa experience kay dili diay dali

magvolunteer ug magrepack ug maghatag ug relief. Parehas atong

pag-adto namo sa Mandulog kay lisod kaayo ang dalan. Ang uban

pa nag-ingon nga dili mayo ang ilang nadawat unya ang uban

nga wala naapektuhan kay makadawat. Ang mga gipanghatag

sa ila kay pili-an na. Tapos gusto nila nga adtuan jud sila sa

ilahang mga balay. Makit-an nimo nga nangawala ang mga balay

sa kadaghanan. Makaingon gyud ko nga dili dapat pamutlon ang

mga kahoy ky walay magpugong sa tubig. Undangon pud dapat

ang mina.

Ako nakit-an sa Rogonon kay opaw jud ang lugar.

Akong nakit-an sa mga balay dli guro ingon ato ka dako angguba kung tubig ra pero naa may troso nga bisan concrete nga

balay kay apil og kalaras. Ang mga otoridad dani walay ginabuhat

ky paagion ra ang mga troso nga molabay kay basi og hatagan

sila og kwarta. Maong nadaot samot ang kinaiyahan kay wala nay

mga dako nga kahoy sa Iligan. Kapoy kaayo magrelief. Parehas sa

Rogongon kay pag-adto kay init unya pagbalik kay ulan. Tapos

pagkabuntag ky trangkaso dayon.

Before ko nagvolunteer kay naay nagbalita sa

amo nga banlas daw angIligan. Nahadlok mi kay naa man mi

mga relatives sa Hinaplanon. Pag-ingon nga nanginahanglan og

volunteer nitabang gyud mi dili lang sa mga tao kay sa mga

relatives pud namo. Maski wala mi matabang nga kwarta pero

amo kusog nalang among itabang.

Ang mga patay kay wala gilubong diretso unyamakadaot baya sa health sa mga tao. Naasign pud ko sa critical

area makakita ka og mga tao nga gadala dala ug caliber 45 unya

magpalista sila wala mi mabuhat kay gadala sa pusil.

Katong baha kay uban ko og tabang sa kauban. Ang

tubig kay nibuylo sa taas kay napugngan sa tulay.

Sa relief sa January 3 na ko nakatabang kay niuli

ko pero pag-abot kay namawi og tabang. Nakit-an nako nga wala

gyud kayo natabang ang gobyerno tapos dili sila prepared ani nga

panghitabo. Tapos mao to pasensya gihapon ug maayo ky nameetnako ning mga kauban nga volunteers pud. First time pud to nga

nakaapil ko aning pagvolunteer sa disaster.

Maski kinsa paka basta kalamidad ang

kalaban wala jud ka mabuhat. Ingon sa mga driver

nga ang dapat sisihon gyud ani kay kanang mga tao

nga gapamutol sa mga kahoy. Daghan ko na-meet

sa mga kauban nga nagbabad pod sa pagresponde

sa kalamidad. Kapoy kaayo pero relieving gihapon

kay makit-an nimu ilang mga smile.

Sa distribution bisan na kapoy kay ok lang

kay makatabang ko sa uban tao.

Sa uban area mawad-an gyud ka og tingog

kay dili magfollow ang uban. Naa koy gikalagutan nga

babae nga balik balik iya name pero gi ok nalang

namu ky murag ok raman sa uban. Katong babae kay

manguha ug number. Lain kaayo sa mga gapanghatag.

Pag-adto namu sa Digkilaan nakit-an namo

ang mga naguba. Ang suba kay murag

nakaupat tapos init kayo kung magrelief

mi.

Nianhi ko para mutabang og ganahan ko

ky nakaadto sa uban lugar. Excited ko tapos naay uban

nga i-Sir gud ka. Dili dali magvolunteer kay hago. Tapos

makit-an nmu luoy kayo ang uban kay naay missing, patay,

ug walay balay. Lisod jud ning mabahaan ta kay wla nay

gamit, mawala ang uban pamilya, walay maulian.

Gitahasan ko nga magvalidate og data sa mga area.

Kani nga trabaho kapoy gyud siya kay sayo kaayo ka magmata.

Maayo pud nga experience kay nakasulod ko sa mga tago nga lugar.

Nakakita pud ko sa lugar sa mga Higaonun ug hadlok pud siya kay

pangpang ang mga dalan.

Naa pud tong habal2 kay gikuha ang pusil nga gibilin

sa kasagbutan ky naay rido. Ang uban pa kay pag-abot nimo mgduol

sila nga gadaladala ug pusil abi nila gikan me sa gobyerno.

Bisan pa man, magpadayon gihapon ko.

21


26/28

DUYOG ILIGAN Documentation and

Communication Team was created in response to

the disaster brought about by Typhoon SENDONG

which started on the night of December 16,

2011. Since then, the team also started its taskin documenting, word processing the list of

survivors, validating the data, social networking,

blog updating, and many more. All these hard

works are submitted in the name of volunteerism

and in helping the survivors reclaim their rights,

restore their dignity, and rebuild lives.

Composed of seasoned and well-

rounded young individuals coming from dierent

network organizations of RDRRAC, the team was

able to perform tons of works with a combination

of seriousness and amusement. They even fondly

call themselves Tarantistas.

So who exactly are these Tarantistas?

Tarantistas (sing. Tarantista) coming from a

Spanish term, taranta, that purports to mental disturbance

and madness. This explains the sum total of this teams

conative behaviour as they are always in the state of panic

so to deliver relevant information and efcient services to

the teams under the disaster response structure as well asto the people who might be needing their service.

He chose to stay to nish his work even

risking not spending quality me with his

family during Christmas and New Year. Mark

facilitates all the meengs of the team. He

is responsible for updang the 3Ws report

and has an inventory of all available data

gathered by RDRRAC through its reputableDUYOG ILIGAN Volunteers.

Ching can manage to do both nance and

documentaon work. How? Follow her twier

@my_ching. As smart as her smartphone,

she always makes sure to update the RDRRAC

status and acvies over social networks. She

manages to go back and forth from the oce,

to other oces, to the bank transacons and

then back to her haven, the Tarantarium (our

own version of war room). Considering thefact that shes a loving Mom to her beauful

and gied daughter Isabelli, she nishes the

tasks given to her before going home.

He is meculous in handling the EXCEL

formang and encoding of validated data.

He always has a good morning greengs

to all with a smile. When everyone is already

troubled and overburdened of their tasks, he

is gied of strategies to upli them. Simply

amazing indeed, he can turn the storm back

into the sun.

Endowed by a plethora of terminologies,

this walking Meriam Webster startlingly

spells out-of-this-world words to the team.

Upon joining the team, he developed his

love for twier and, faster than the wink of

an eye, has gained a mass of followers. You

may follow him @Isboyvismo.

Also known for his eding prowess, Isboy

was the one who exerted eort to pursue

the rst release of the DUYOG ILIGAN

Newsleer.

The cutest among the team,

Aga made a great contribuon

in skinning the identy of the

survivors data. He can also keep

his cool and manages to withstand

the pressures he got from theTarantarium and his HR work.

The most silent among the team,

he was praised when he did the

cartooning of the rst newsleer

issue. Burt can also fast track the

word processing of documents.

He is indeed prey silent, but

prey impressive.

Matet was the one responsible forthe stunning photos of Duyog Iligan.

Nothing escapes the lens of her

beauful, not to menon, expensive

camera.

Originally hailed as the Tarantariums

External Relaons Personel, Omar

has been responsible in monitoring

and updang the situaon in Laville

Gymnasium (the adopted evacuaon

center of RDRRAC). His connecons

to INGOs are making a blast. He

usually oers drinks during panic zone

moments.

In a span of two months, these people

have built an indestructible camaraderie, respect,

and trust for each other. No matter how immense

the pressure they get from this endeavor, their

bond and good working relationship is the

debrieing mechanism that relieves them before

the day ends.

22


27/28

23

ComicBoy IDP

BogBulaBog

Di Pangangailangan

Wag nalang sana


28/28

Our heartfelt thank you and felicitations

to all the donors and friends for the solidarity

and in helping out IDPs in this in this dificult

time. No picture can capture this feeling.

We are hoping that your camaraderie will

accompany us in the process of rebuilding

our lives.

Pasalamat sa mga donors ug

kahigalahan sa kaayohan ug pakigduyog sa

panahon nga gikinahanglan sa IDPs. Walay

pictures nga maka-capture sa gibati. Hinaut

nga magpadayon og kuyog kanamo sa

padayong paglawig aron makatukod balik sa

among kinabuhi.

Thank You BOX How can You help?

Any donation can be channeled to our

network command center, RDRRAC,

(Ranaw Disaster Response and

Rehabilitation \Assistance Center

Inc.) at Door 2 Maca-agir Apt., 6th

East, Tubod, Iligan City, Lanao

del Norte Philippines, telephone

number +63 63-223-3171. You may

deposit your monetary donation in

its accounts:

Land Bank of the Philippines Account

Number: 0321-1964-03, Iligan City,

Ranaw Disaster Response and

Rehabilitation Assistance Center

(RDRRAC Inc).

China Banking CorporationAccount Name: RDRRAC, Inc. with

account no. 186-123321-9 Swift

Code: CHBKPHMM

Allied Bank Dollar Account Name:

RDRRACI Account No. 0672-00299-8

Swift Code: ABCMPHMM or Paypal

ID: [email protected]

We are hoping for your compassion

and solidarity.

ADONA G. ORQUILLAS

Executive Director, RDRRAC

For more photos and updates,

like us on Facebook, follow us on

Twier, and/or subscribe us at

rdrrac.wordpress.com

Next Issue. . . . .

IDPs:How can we move on

Duyog Iligan is the name of

RDRRACSs (Ranaw Disaster

Response and Rehabilitaon

Assistance Center) disaster

response campaign.

The logo signies the essence of the Tri-People

perspecve. It means that RDRRAC puts primary importance

and respect to the existence of Katawhang Lumad (Green),Bangsamoro (Red), and Katawhang Migrante (Blue) in any

disaster response and intervenons.

2nd Issue_Duyog Iligan Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of 2nd Issue_Duyog Iligan Newsletter