Narrative report on the Relief Work supported by
Wimler Foundation Hong Kong
December
13, 2013
Barangay
Daan Banwa, Estancia, iloilo
Introduction
The
support of Wimler foundation gave us the opportunity to serve the disaster
victims for the third wave of relief operation.
November
20 was the first relief operation that benefited communities of Libertad in
Banate; Agnaga in Concepcion and several communities gathered in the Parish
Church in Ajuy, Iloilo. We brought more than 1,620 packs and several sacks of
used clothing with about 6 barrels of mineral water. With this amount we were
able to extend our help in San Dionisio when we diverted our route to other
areas bringing with us our excess relief goods and also our food. Around 19
vehicles with 150 people participated with several groups like the Union of
Prayer for Vocations, Pototan FB group, Mini sound association of Pototan
joining.
November
30 was the second wave of relief operation that benefitted the communities of more
than 50 families (80 packs) of Baptist church in Barangay San Antonio, Ajuy; 120
packs for Sitio Kalog; 150 packs for Sitio Baybay who are part of the 230
families of Siyempre Viva, San Dionisio. Around 400 families (460 packs) of Barangays Malapoc and 68 packs for
50 families of Dolores in the Municipality of Balasan. We then gave the
remaining 250 packs at the Balasan parish for other areas. 9 vehicles joined in
this activity.
Objectives
of the Activity
The
activity of involving our parish in relief and rehabilitation work is in line
with our parish program of “Reconstructing our Church as People”.
The objective then is not only to respond to the victims of the disaster but
most of all to show that our presence gives them hope while on the other hand
we are also evangelized by the presence of Jesus among the lost, the last and
the least.
Based
on this context, we set the following objectives:
1. To
gather relief goods support mainly from the people in the Parish for them to
get involve.
2. To
encourage the Church members to immerse themselves in the life and struggles of
the victims of the disaster.
3. To
reflect on the situation and discovering the “signs of the times” thus
internalizing the Christian Response to these challenging times.
Implementation
Preparation
After
the second wave of relief operations, we were blessed that three of our lay
leaders were able to attend a seminar briefing on Psychological First Aid
facilitated by Ugat Foundation. This provided
us more knowledge on how to handle our immersion process among the victims of
disasters.
After
receiving information from Wimler Foundation of their support for Estancia, we
coordinated with Fr. Macky Sortido who was the Parish priest in that area. We
asked for a particular community that he may identify to be the beneficiary of
our relief operation mainly from Wimler Foundation.
He
recommended the area of Barangay Daan Banwa, Estancia. This is about 2
kilometer distance from the town proper with 425 families coming from 7 zones
(sitios) of the Barangay. He informed us further that what the people need
most.
Upon
receiving the funds, we made a plan for the relief work in Estancia given the
present resources of the Parish and the relief goods gathered. Main funds that
will be used will be from Wimler Foundation.
It was
also decided that the 350 packs will be given to Batad Parish as we pass by the
area before going to Estancia. Added to the relief operation supported by
Wimler Foundation were kerosene lamps from the Parishoners, mosquito nets,
sardines and noodles donated and the six boxes of used clothing from the
Cordillera Green Network and the ARUGA Northern Luzon group.
We were
able to prepare a total of 900 packs with rice, milk, sardines and noodles.
Added to these were blankets, kerosene lamps, mosquito nets, used clothing and
11 boxes of bottled water from Natures Spring.
Day of relief
operation
On the
day of relief operation, we were able to borrow the truck to be used and the
Parish just spent for the fuel amounting to P2,500. Two private vehicles were
also used with no expense. We still rented a Jeepney for P4,500 to bring in our
Parish and youth leaders that will facilitate the distribution and integration.
We
started our day with an early morning mass at 5:30 am. After this we had our
briefing and orientation for the participants numbering around 45.
At
exactly 7:00 am we travelled to Estancia via Passi City, San Enrique, San
Rafael, Lemery and Sara going to Batad. We dropped the 350 packs of relief
goods at the Batad Parish Priest and immediately went straight to Estancia were
Fr. Macky and their community leaders are waiting. We then proceeded to
Barangay Daan Banwa arriving there at around 11:00am under the very intense
heat of the sun as most of the trees were gone.
As the
people gathered, we introduced ourselves and our objective of being in their
community. We announced that these goods shared to them were from Wimler
foundation and also the people from the Parish who are poor like them. We made
it a point to them that we are also there to listen and learn from their
experiences. And that the lesson left to
us by Typhoon Yolanda that it is very important to build good relationship with
your neighbor for human infrastructure must be stronger rather than
strengthening of the physical infrastructure.
We
gave to the community 550 relief packs, kerosene lamps, blankets, mosquito
nets, mineral water and used clothing for children and adults.
The
Barangay Captain also expressed his appreciation of the effort. Fr. Tomtom who
was our assistant Parish Priest gave a message and the activity was ended by a
prayer and blessing of Fr. Macky who was their Parish Priest.
The
Youth leaders of our Parish Youth Ministry also facilitated some games for the
children while the rest of us dispersed among the people and start conversing
with them on their situation.
The
relief goods and other materials were turned over to the community leaders for
their distribution. We followed whatever their way of distributing and
identifying their priority beneficiaries for they know well their community
members.
Information
gathered during the immersion in Daan Banwa, Estancia
Most
of the residents here were agricultural farmworkers in the sugarcane plantation
earning P150 pesos daily which are also seasonal in character. A significant
number of men also work as fishermen in large fishing vessels owned by some
rich merchants in the town proper and most of these were also damaged. Some
women work as domestic help in the town proper to augment their husband’s
meager income.
The
village is not along the shore though relatively near such that there are no
marginal fishermen in the area but rather agricultural workers and other semi
workers (tricycle drivers etc.). It is divided in 7 zones (Sitios) with a total
number of 425 families.
The
people expressed that they still have not recovered from their traumatic
experience. For students, they still could hardly stay in class due to poverty
and the heat that they could not bear while inside the classroom. The children
are still scared whenever dark clouds are hanging overhead that would bring
rain.
Added
to this was the false alarm through text messages that a tsunami will hit the
area of Antique, Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo. They scampered at the middle of the
night running towards the mountain areas. This happened in the first week of
December.
The
typhoon also had a great impact on agriculture. The coconuts could hardly
recover from 4 to 5 years. Bananas and vegetables that are also a source of
livelihood may recover from 4 months to 2 years. Rice production in the area
though limited in space was also affected when the wind brought salty water to
the rice fields. The people are just hoping that the rice will be able to
recover after the leaves turned yellow.
Conclusion
Even
though it may seem very limited, our relief work did brought hope for the
people in the area. Listening to their stories of surviving the near death
situation is already a great relief for them.
In
Estancia, a relatively significant support for the affected villages is going
on. While we were there, groups of Doctors without Borders are also
coordinating with the village while the Swiss government support is planning to
provide the 180 families with totally damaged houses with 12 GI sheets, 2 kgs
nails, saw, hammer and other materials.
We had
a sharing with the BEC facilitators in the area on how they would be able to
organize the community to enable them to recover fast. They informed us that
they are also guided by the Jaro Archdiocesan Pastoral Secretariat (JAPC) and
also facilitated relief and rehabilitation support.
In
this context, we believe that we have to refocus on our next relief work for
most of the coastal areas of northern Iloilo is already receiving relatively
significant support. We have other requests from the hinterland areas of
Bingawan, Passi City and Calinog. The hinterland of Calinog is home to the
Indigenous people of Panay.
We
will also be focusing now on rehabilitation work like agricultural production
while introducing organic farming and other livelihood projects based on their
resources.
We
also see the need to heighten the awareness of the people on the present
environmental crisis we are confronting. This will strengthen their resolve to unify
their community.
So
much work must be done. We have to keep on going and be inspired by the
determination of the people to rebuild their lives and regain their dignity!
Thank
you very much for your warm support, WIMLER FOUNDATION! You will always be in
our prayers.
December
23, 2013
Joefel Resol
Photo Credits: Joefel Resol and team
Financial Report
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CASH ADVANCE LIQUIDATION FORM |
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| Name |
Patronage
of St. Joseph Parish |
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Date |
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| Address |
Pototan, Iloilo |
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|
23-Dec-13 |
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Purpose |
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|
Relief
Operations for Barangay Daan Banwa, Estancia, Iloilo, Philippines |
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| Itemized
Expenses |
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| DATE |
|
|
DESCRIPTION |
|
CODE |
AMOUNT |
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| 12/10/2013 |
38 sacks of rice |
|
|
|
|
|
58,900.00 |
| 12/11/2013 |
150 pcs blankets |
|
|
|
|
|
19,500.00 |
| 12/11/2013 |
12 boxes Bearbrand Choco
and Milk |
|
|
|
13,995.00 |
| 12/11/2013 |
100 pcs 16 cm aluminum
kettle |
|
|
|
|
8,900.00 |
| 12/11/2013 |
tip for baggage boys |
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|
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|
70.00 |
| 12/11/2013 |
packing materials: 500pcs
plastic for rice |
|
|
|
222.50 |
| 12/11/2013 |
packing
materials: 200 pcs Extra Large Polybags |
|
|
540.00 |
| 12/12/2013 |
banner for Wimler |
|
|
|
|
|
300.00 |
| 12/11/2013 |
tarpauline streamer |
|
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|
|
|
410.00 |
| 12/12/2013 |
20
liter kerosene for donated kerosene lamps |
|
|
1000.00 |
| 12/12/2013 |
fare and meals |
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|
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|
190.00 |
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Total Expenses |
Php |
104,027.50 |
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Cash Advance |
Php |
112,044.00 |
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Amount |
|
HK$ |
8,016.50 |
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The remaining amount will be allocated for the next wave of relief/rehabilitation in Iloilo.
