In January and February, Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS), together with its par-tner organizations and volunteers, was able to reach out to underserved communities

in Leyte and Samar. Three months since super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) battered this part of the Eastern Visayas islands on November 8, 2013, not much has been done by the government to ease hunger and improve conditions on agriculture, livelihood, health, shelter, and education despite local donations and P 25,842,729,246.68 or USD 551,913,473 (as of February 27, 2014) worth of foreign aid pledged to the government.

In both missions, SOS volunteers documented people’s testimonies on the government’s apparent lack of empathy to the victims of the super typhoon evident on the absence of immediate relief and medical aid in many barangays. To date, there are communities that attest that they were not able to receive any form of aid from the government. Moreover, no concrete plans on livelihood and agricultural rehabilitation has reached them, too.

According to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) in 2011, even before the super typhoon Yolanda hit the region, poverty incidence was already at 48.2%. Meanwhile, independent research group IBON and SAGUPA-SB stated in their Peasant

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TYPHOON YOLANDA SERIES 4-5 l MARCH 2014

One hundred days since Typhoon Yolanda claimed thousands of lives and left millions physically and economically displaced, survivors and the rest of the affected population are demanding the still unmet food relief and rehabilitation assistance from the government.

ONE HUNDRED DAYS SINCE TYPHOON YOLANDA, FUTURE IS STILL UNCERTAIN FOR THE VICTIMS IN SAMAR AND LEYTE

Send your donations to

Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS), Inc.#8 Mines Street, Brgy. Vasra,Quezon City 1128, PhilippinesTelefax: (+632) 929-8109

For cash donations, you may deposit at

Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS), Inc.Metro BankSA 636-3-63608747-6Swift Code: MBTCPHMMMetrobank-Examiner Quezon Avenue Branch,1517 Ave Maria Bldg, Quezon City, Philippines

ABOUT S.O.S.

It is a network of volunteer health workers, professionals, and students, aiming to render assistance to disaster victims through relief and medical missions.

It was formed in the early ‘90s in response to the big earthquake and the lahar flows of Mt. Pinatubo.

You may contact us through (+632) 929-8109 or sos.phils@gmail.com

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SOS 2014

Situation in Eastern Visayas, of the 6 provinces, Eastern Samar registers the highest poverty incidence while Leyte registers the highest magnitude of poor families. The municipalities of Samar are identified as the poorest in the region.

Moreover, Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that poverty rate in Eastern Visayas may increase from 41.2% to 55.7% as a consequence of the typhoon’s destruction.

This newsletter reports on the 4th and 5th medical and relief missions of SOS in upland provinces of Leyte and Samar that are hardly reached by government aid and services.

Fourth mission: Leyte

The 4th medical and relief missions were conducted on January 17-21 and January 27-28, 2014 in Leyte. A total of 33 volunteers joined the teams that served a total of 846 patients from Leyte (573 patients from Barangays Canlampay, Caghalo, Upper Hiraan, Libo, Cutag, and Hiloctogan in Carigara town; 273 patients from Barangay Rubas in Jaro town) and handed out relief packs, construction mate-rials, cooking pots and seedlings to

2,006 families (11,033 individuals) in Barangays Langit, Salvacion, and Tabanguhay in Alang-Alang, Barangay San Roque in Tunga, and Barangays Canlampay, Paglaum, Caghalo, Barayong, and Hiloctogan in Carigara.

They were divided into 2 groups, one for the medical mission while the other for the psycho-social therapy sessions. There were 5 doctors, 5 nurses, 2 physician’s aids and 1 acupuncturist for the medical mission team while there were 6 senior behavioral science students, 2 counselors and 2 social workers for the psycho-social therapy team. Staff members from partner organizations also helped with medical and psycho-social therapy missions. These included the Bridge Builder Foundation, Council for Health and Development (CHD), Community Medicine Development Foundation (COMMED), Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR) Health Empowerment and Action in Leyte and Samar (HEALS), Health Municipal Partners Association of Carigara (HMPAC), Learn-CENE, Municipal Farmers’ Association of Carigara (MuFAC), KODAO Productions, and University of the Philippines-Manila Department of

Behavioral Science.

SOS focused its support to Barangays Canlampay and Rubas, both interior communities that have received few or no relief and medical assistance. Barangay Canlampay can be found in Carigara, a second class municipality in Leyte.

The medical mission team noted that the most common medical cases were upper respiratory tract infections, hypertension, skin diseases (scabies being the most prevalent) and anxiety due to stress. The team observed that the high cases of hypertension among patients were mainly due to the high salt diet (the patients have been eating dried fish and canned goods since Typhoon Yolanda) and stress (due to economic worries and the non-stop rains that reminded them of Typhoon Yolanda’s destruction).

As in the previous missions, major health risks such as lack of potable water, lack of electricity, nails and pointed objects in debris were noted. Stress, as an effect of the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, and its correla-tion to hypertension cases were also noted.

Areas Dates Medical Mission Patients

Psycho-social Therapy (Kids)/

Education (Adults)

Relief Delivery Operation

Carigara, Leyte January 17-21, 2014

573 140/35

Jaro, Leyte 273 120/10Alang-Alang, Leyte January 26-27,

2014717

Tunga, Leyte 300Carigara, Leyte 989TOTAL: 14 Barangays, 4 Towns, 1 Province

846 640/45 2,006

TYPHOON YOLANDA

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Fifth mission: Western Samar

The 5th SOS medical, psycho-social and relief missions held on February 7-11, 2014 began in two towns of Western Samar – Calbiga and Hinabangan. The 4-day mission, ended in the town of Pinabacdao, also in Western Samar. SOS was joined by Council for Health and Development(CHD), Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR), Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), Health Empowerment and Action for Leyte and Samar (HEALS), Filipino-American Health Workers’ Association (FAHWA),National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) members from Cali-fornia, USA, KODAO Productions, counselors from the University of the Philippines-Manila Department of Behavioral Science, physicians from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and nurses from the Health Students’ Action (HSA).

Some 25 volunteers joined the teams that served 20 barangays in the muni-cipalities of Calbiga, Hinabangan and Pinabacdao. A total of 1,278 patients were seen by the medical team while 2,000 families (11,000 individuals) were given relief packs in the said municipalities.

SOS served 513 patients from Barangays Binanggaran, Hubasan, Beri, Buluan, Borong, Daligan, Mahangcao and 1 village in Calbiga (including 3 stroke patients); 177 patients from Barangays Canano, Lim-ao, Yabon, Dalosdoson, and Cabalagnan in Hinabangan; and 573 patients from Barangays Mag-dawat, Layo, Canlabo, Manaing, plus 3 villages in Pinabacdao. Fifteen patients were also given professional attention by volunteer Fil-American occupational thera-pist from NAFCON-USA. HEALS volunteer acupuncturists were also able to treat several patients that had lower back pain, a typical ailment of farmers.

The most common ailments noted were upper respiratory tract infection (viral), musculoskeletal pain (low and upper/cervical back pain), and chronic diseases such as hypertension and tuberculosis. Other cases noted were community acquired pneumonia, gastritis, migraine/tension headache, and arthritis. There were several pregnant women also optimized the mission to seek prenatal consul-tation because the Rural Health Unit is located very far from the community.

Some villagers expressed that it was their first time to see and consult a real doctor or have their blood pres-sure taken. All the village folks said no government health personnel has visited them even after Typhoon Yolanda.

For the psycho-social services, third year students of UP Behavio-ral Science and their professors led the songs and dances that made the children at ease with their peers and new “teachers.” Colored crayons, papers and pencils were distributed to each child to serve as medium to express their feelings. Kids age 3 to 15 drew what they were doing and how they felt during Typhoon Yolanda’s wrath. Some drew a stick figure with arms stretched out in-side a house and with the words nahahadlok or fear in Waray.

Meanwhile, 2,000 relief packs were distributed to families in Hina-bangan (400), Calbiga (900), and Pinabacdao (700). It was their first time to receive immediate food relief since the super typhoon in November.##

Areas Dates Medical Mission Patients

Psycho-social Therapy (Kids)/

Education (Adults)

Relief Delivery Operation

Calbiga, Western Samar February 7-11, 2014

528 120/0 900

Hinabangan, Western Samar

177 70/20 400

Pinabacdao, Western Samar

573 130/25 700

TOTAL: 20 Barangays, 3 Towns, 1 Province

1,278 320/45 2,000

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SOS 2014

QUICKLIST: SOS TYPHOON YOLANDA RESPONSETo date, SOS was able to hold 5 medical and relief missions in 69 barangays in 16 towns of 4 provinces in Samar and Leyte. A total of 6,275 patients were given medical attention and 9,462 families were given relief packs.

Dates Areas Medical Mission Patients Relief Delivery Operation (Families)

November 21-25, 2013 Hernani, Eastern Samar 488 892

Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar 316Basey, Western Samar 600 456

December 5-9, 2013 Albuera, Leyte 782 308Ormoc, Leyte 454 500Kananga, Leyte 706 608

December 17-21, 2013 Quinapondan, Eastern Samar 179 697Giporlos, Eastern Samar 455 946Balangiga, Eastern Samar 487 733

January 17-21, 2014 Carigara, Leyte 573Jaro, Leyte 273

January 26-27, 2014 Alang-Alang, Leyte 717Tunga, Leyte 300Carigara, Leyte 989

February 7-11, 2014 Calbiga, Western Samar 528 900

Hinabangan, Western Samar 177 400

Pinabacdao, Western Samar 573 700

TOTAL 69 Barangays in 16 Towns of 4 Provinces

6,275 9,462

TYPHOON YOLANDA

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Thus was the battle cry of the more than twelve thousand people who marched the streets of Tacloban City under the scorching heat of the January sun. On January 24 to 25, 2014, some 12,000 people filled up the basketball court of the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) to form an alliance dubbed “People Surge” or duluk han katawhan in Waray language. It means an empowered people indicting the Aquino government for its gross ne-gligence that resulted to thousands of deaths and damage to lives and property of the people.

They used the metaphor “people surge” to describe the swelling of the people gathering their strength, rising up and flooding the streets to “exact justice from an inept government.” People Surge is a broad alliance of Typhoon Yolanda victims, survivors, organizations joined together in the common goal of helping the typhoon victims and minimizing if not preventing the risk from similar human-made or natural disasters.

The people, who came from dif-ferent towns of Samar and Leyte,

demanded justice for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and brought to fore some pressing issues plaguing the survivors like food, housing, livelihood and health. Among their specific demand is the provision of P40,000 immediate financial relief to every affected family.

The computation is based on the framework that “relief distribution has been insufficient, rehabilitation plan is uncertain.” The amount is estimated to provide for the barest essentials of a family of 6 members for two months in Eastern Visayas.

In the assembly, speakers who were affected themselves emotionally shared their miseries after the typhoon struck. Amid tears, the audience felt the speakers’ deter-mination to rise up from the rubble and demand the government to do its part in providing for immediate and strategic assistance to every affected family.

They also denounced the “No Build Zone” policy being imposed by the government which bars residents from rebuilding their shelters along the coastlines of Samar and Leyte.

“How can the government prevent us from building our homes along the coastal areas and when our main source of livelihood comes from the sea?” one speaker said. “They prohi-bit us from rebuilding the lives our forefathers taught us to live and not provide clear plans as to how the government will concretely support us,” a resident from Tacloban tear-fully said.

The People Surge Alliance sharplypointed out that the “No Build Zone” policy enforces outright land grabbing, effective demolition and eviction of the victims from their homes and livelihood.

Rosalinda Tablang, president of Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS) said the policy “paves the way for the entry of big business interests and will work in big businessmen’s favor rather than the majority of the affected population.”

The Philippine Daily Inquirer (1/28/14) reported that several billionaires have volunteered to be “co-shepherds” in 24 areas identified for rebuilding—such as Manuel V. Pangilinan and Enrique Razon for

“Hustisya para ha biktima han Bagyo Yolanda! Sukton an pagpasibaya hang gubyernong Aquino!” (Justice for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda! Indict the Aquino government for its gross negligence to the people!)

RISING FROM THE RUBBLE: YOLANDA SURVIVORS FORM ALLIANCE TO ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS

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SOS 2014

Tacloban City; George Ty for Palo; Injap Sia for the rest of the 1st district of Leyte; Gabby Lopez

for the 2nd district of Leyte; the Aboitiz family for Ormoc, Cebu and Eastern Samar and parts of Leyte; the Yuchengco Group for the 4th district of Leyte; Manny Zamora for Eastern Samar; Edward Gaisano for the 3rd and 5th district of Cebu; the Ayala family for Ne-gros Occidental and Aklan; John Gokongwei for the 4th district of Iloilo; Henry Sy and Lucio Tan for education; and San Miguel Corp. for housing.

Meanwhile, Aquino-appointed rehabilitation czar and former Senator Panfilo Lacson said that the government established a multi-donor fund from Overseas Filipino Workers and private foundations to be managed by the private sector. Lacson said the Board of Trustees was likely to be made up of officials of ABS-CBN, GMA 7, PLDT-Smart, Globe Telecom, and SGV & Co. founder Washington Sycip.

“The big businessmen are dividing Tacloban to themselves which may eventually leave the people with nothing at the end,” Tablang added.

SOS is in solidarity with the al-liance formation in Tacloban put up a health station that served

about 90 to 100 individuals who sought medical consultation and had their blood pressure checked. Most of the reported cases in-cluded cough, colds, diarrhea, hyperacidity, headache, high blood pressure, skin problems and one case of wound/cut.

In solidarity to the newly-formed People’s Surge, the broad alliance of survivors, the organizations and individuals for the Yolanda victims, SOS supports the following People Surge demands:

1. Provide P40,000 immediate financial relief to every affectedfamily. This is based on the framework that relief distribution has been insufficient and rehabi-litation plan is uncertain. This amount only covers for at least two months of decent living for a family of six in the Eastern Visayas Region prior to the typhoon.

2. Scrap the ‘No-Build Zone’ Policy that enforces outright land grabbing, effective demolition and eviction of the victims from their homes and livelihood. Provide them with free and adequate hou-

sing, sufficient supply of clean water and provision for electricity.

3. Sustain the distribution of relief assistance of food and water to the victims both in the urban and rural communities until such time that their economic lives are relatively stable and recovered.

4. Provide financial subsidy or monetary relief to the affected families in farming and fishing com-munities especially to those whose subsistence and livelihoods primarily depend on agriculture.

5. Impose price controls on basic commodities and moratorium on oil, power and water rate hikes.

6. Facilitate a speedy restoration and access to vital public utiliti.es such as water; power; transportation and communication installations in severely affected areas. Provide alternatives such as solar panels and the like as deemed necessary.

7. Immediately pull out local and foreign military forces and suspend all counter-insurgency programs in typhoon-struck urban and rural areas. The continuing presence of these military forces causes anxiety and economic sabotage and thus intensifies hunger and poverty especially in remote areas where farmers are constrained from tending their farms for fear of military harassments. Re-channel the budget allocation for defense to a pro-people relief and rehabilita-tion program instead.

8. Provide immediate employment

“PEOPLE SURGE” TO DESCRIBE THE SWELLING OF THE PEOPLE GATHERING THEIR STRENGTH,

RISING UP AND FLOODING THE STREETS TO “EXACT JUSTICE FROM AN INEPT

GOVERNMENT.”

TYPHOON YOLANDA

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and livelihood for the affected families to arrest the deepening hunger and poverty among them.

9. Hold public consultations in crafting the rehabilitation and reconstruction plan and ensure that the victims, not the big businesses and landlords, are at the core of this plan. Ensure transparency and accountability during implementa-tion.

10. Provide adequate assistance and speed up the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector to ensure food security and restore the livelihood of affected families.

11. Hasten the repair and reconstruc-tion of public hospitals and ensure free access especially to indigents and victims.12. Hasten the repair and recons-

truction of schools, provide adequate educational assistance to basic education and ensure free matriculation for public higher educational institutions.

13. Provide adequate assistance to the surviving families for the loss of lives, property and livelihood.

14. Implement a one-year tax mora-torium (such as business, income, and real property tax) that aims to benefit local businesses and small entrepreneurs in severely affected areas.

15. Allocate additional funds to Local Government Units in Yolanda-stricken areas that would serve as special calamity funds to facilitate the prompt delivery of basic social services. Ensure trans-parency and accountability in its

implementation.

16. Review all government policies that are destructive to people’s lives and the environment such as mining policies and related anti-people poli-cies. Revisit the laws on disaster risk preparedness and response.

17. Implement genuine agrarian reform under the auspices of a na-tional industrialization program as a key solution to mass poverty and its consequent people’s vulnerability to disasters and climate change impacts. 18. Hold the Aquino government cri-minally liable for its negligence in ensuring the safety and welfare of its people. Hold the Aquino government responsible for its ineptness and in-competence in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.##