WIMLER.org: WIMLER finally connects with local partners in Iloilo

November 25, 2013

WIMLER Foundation HK finally released the amount of HK$ 20,000 for Estancia, Iloilo care of Ref. Fr. Tomas D. Delicana, JR. of St. Joseph Parish in Pototan, Iloilo. The amount will be used to buy 65 sacks of rice +/- to be distributed in Estancia, one of the hardest areas hit by typhoon Yolanda.

The parish is organizing a caravan anytime this week to bring the relief goods.
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It was extremely difficult to establish contacts with Iloilo City to help us deliver our relief goods to Estancia, hardest hit town in Iloilo. WIMLER HK will also assist affected families in Passi City.

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oer8XPSbgfw

Our contact person there is Noemi Paccial Paniza, member of PASSI City, Balik sa Bayan, Inc., an association of migrants, expatriates, and their families from Passi City. In Hong Kong, WIMLER HK is coordinating with PASSINHON Group care of Ma. Wilma Padura.

PASSI HK already sent boxes containing relief goods to Passi City while Myrna Pama, one of the directors of WIMLER HK and focal person for Iloilo Relief fund campaign has already sent blankets and noodles for the victims in Passi City.

Myrna Pama Hill, one of directors of WIMLER Foundation HK arranged this shipment
intended for victims in Passi City.

ESTANCIA

After a long search, WIMLER Foundation HK finally connected with Marvin Bionat of Pototan, Iloilo and Joefel Resol of Patronage of St. Joseph also in Pototan. WIMLER Foundation HK is partnering with the local Patronage of St. Joseph Parish in Pototan to deliver the relief goods. Both are willing to arrange distribution of Wimler's relief goods to Estancia.

Those who want to help victims in the coastal towns of northern Iloilo, the local parish is accepting donations (cash or kind) as they prepare a caravan to deliver assistance (first trip is Nov 20, Wednesday). Focus will be on rehabilitation (not just a quick handing out of a meal pack), so donations may include construction materials, seeds, etc. Contact Joefel Resol at 09105696706 if you want to help and/or join the trip.

WIMLER is now preparing for the first shipment. Leny Ramada, a relative of Myrna Pama (one of the directors of WIMLER HK) will try to bring some relief goods tomorrow evening when she flies to Iloilo City.

WIMLER's plan to get involved in the rehabilitation program in cooperation with migrant domestoc workers from Passi who are working in Hong Kong, Canada, USA, among others.

For Estancia, WIMLER HK decided to extend the initial amount of HK$ 20,000.

Situation Report: Estancia, Iloilo

Below is a situation report prepared by Marvin Bionat for the town of Estancia (hardest-hit town here in Iloilo).

Date: November 16, 2013

Population: 42,666 (2010 census)

Number of Barangays: 25

General impact: According to Vice Governor Tupas, who went to the area for an ocular inspection, Estancia was 100 percent devastated. The municipal mayor reported that 99 percent of houses were destroyed or damaged.

Number of dead: The body count in Estancia according to the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as of November 14 is 86, many of whom are unidentified (a number may be fishermen from nearby islands). That is close to half the total deaths in the entire province of Iloilo (which has reached 189). Number of missing in Estancia is 9.

Oil spill compounds the problem: A National Power Corporation barge, with a maximum capacity of 1.2 million liters of diesel fuel, was toppled and slammed against the rocky coastline of Barangay Botongon, Estancia, crushing houses and now leaking diesel fuel. Coast Guard Commander Athello Ybanez has estimated that some 150,000 liters has washed ashore and another 50,000 liters is still on the water surface. Most people in the area are fishermen, so their main source of living is disrupted.

Note that Estancia has island barangays (e.g., Bayas and Loguingot), and because private motorboats were destroyed or swept away, provision of relief goods was initially limited to military helicopters and Navy boats. There are media reports of families still not getting any aid.