Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Wimler distributes second wave of relief Goods in Bantayan, Cebu

These pictures were taken by Karen Seville Fernan, Wimler's focal person in Cebu. Thank you for arranging the distribution of the blankets, Wimler's second visit to the affected area which benefited 150 families. During the first visit, Karen distributed materials (trapals) to the victims to be used as temporary shelters. Once the boxes arrived from Hong Kong, Karen will be going back to Bantayan again. Thank you to our donors mainly from City University of Hong Kong and Friends of Wimler. We are making plans to distribute some bancas (small boats) in Bantayan soon.











Tristan and Ethan Fernan helping their Mom Karen


Monday, December 23, 2013

Wimler's local partners distribute 900 packs for typhoon Yolanda victims in Estancia, Iloilo

Below is the narrative report of Mr. Joefel Resol on how the donation of WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong was allocated. THANK YOU to our donors because we were able to participate in the third wave of assistance organized by St. Joseph Parish of Pototan, Iloilo. The HK$ 20,000 (Php 112,044.00) was used to buy 38 sacks of rice, 150 pieces of blankets, 12 boxes of Bear brand and choco, 100 pieces of aluminum kettle, 20 liter kerosene and to cover other expenses.

THANK YOU Joefel, volunteers and the parish workers of St. Joseph Parish for facilitating the distribution and for sending the narrative and financial report.

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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

               CASH ADVANCE LIQUIDATION FORM
Name Patronage of St. Joseph Parish Date
Address Pototan, Iloilo 23-Dec-13
Purpose
Relief Operations for Barangay Daan Banwa, Estancia, Iloilo, Philippines
Itemized Expenses
DATE DESCRIPTION CODE        AMOUNT
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 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 410.00
12/12/2013 20 liter kerosene for donated kerosene lamps 1000.00
12/12/2013 fare and meals 190.00
Total Expenses Php 104,027.50
Cash Advance Php 112,044.00
            Amount HK$ 8,016.50


The remaining amount will be allocated for the next wave of relief/rehabilitation in Iloilo.