Balay Mindanaw Disaster Response, Risk Reduction and Resiliency Building Updates (Feb. 27-March 5, 2012)

We humbly and gratefully share with you this weekly update. Please note that we have started calling our package of interventions as Disaster Response, Risk Reduction and Resiliency Building Program.

Eighty (80) days after the December 17 disaster, we are encouraged and inspired to acknowledge that we now have a better and broader understanding of this work – largely because of your continuing support and accompaniment, and the trust of our fellow Sendong survivors. And we shall continue to learn.

Daghang salamat…

Relief

More relief goods from the Rotarians in Australia have been sorted and repacked. The Balay Mindanaw Disaster Response, Risk Reduction and Resiliency Building Team decided to distribute these items to the other under-served evacuation centers instead of the five barangays and three tent communities regularly served by BM. Thus, we were able to distribute 32 packs containing used clothing for kids and adults in Barangay Lapasan.

WaSH

The daily water delivery by CRS to the two tent communities in Indahag will last only until the end of this March, as they have decided to focus their interventions in helping construct ‘amakan’ transitional houses. BMFI and the Barangay Government of Indahag will coordinate with the other WaSH providers to help address this concern. A waterfall nearby is already being explored as a possible alternative source of water for Indahag.

The residents of these tent communities have been informed of the situation. The community leaders decided to visit and explore with Balay Mindanaw other water sources in Indahag. The third tent community in Gusa also has insufficient supply of water. This concern will be elevated to the WASH cluster meeting.

Shelter

An additional family from Isla de Oro joined Tent Community 2 which raised the total number to 67 families and 309 individuals. IOM provided materials for construction of a community center in Tent Community 2 of Indahag. The residents of Gusa tent community expressed their need of a child friendly space where the kids could stay without disturbing the Regional Science High School classes. Balay Mindanaw regularly gives updates regarding permanent shelter status since it is very important for the communities to be informed. As Dr. Benson Go, head of the Psyco-Social Cluster, stated, it is very helpful for the IDPs to know the progress so as to give them hope.

Livelihood

A consultation was held with the tent communities of Indahag regarding at least three possible livelihood opportunities (hollow blocks making, urban agriculture, and canteen for the Habitat for Humanity construction workers). Seventeen residents expressed interest to be involved in hollow blocks making and five women signified interest in the canteen business. In Tent Community 2, there already exists a rug making project that needs marketing support.

Children in Indahag learning to weave rugs.

Tent Communities Management

“Kumustahan” sessions are being held regularly with the families in the three tent communities.

On Saturday (March 3) afternoon, we were at the Regional Science High School. Issues raised were: water supply for laundry and bathing, very limited; one case of LBM (1 and 10 months old baby); no firewood, coffee and sugar; no milk for children; rice and eggs given to them, not good/spoiled; and livelihood opportunities very much needed; need to be clarified about the scheme of Community Mortgage Program (CMP) by the Social Action Center (SAC). They requested to be clarified on the advantages and disadvantages of the CMP vis-à-vis the government’s assurance to provide permanent shelters to all Family Access Card (FAC) registered families.

There are no cubicles constructed yet; each of the families just sleeps on the floor, without any privacy. The IOM they said committed to provide them the cubicles.

On Sunday (March 4) afternoon at 1:30-3:00, we went to meet the families of Indahag Tent Community1. As expected, not much limitations were raised except that they really wanted to start with their livelihood activities. We shared with them updates as regards permanent housing, and how the other 40 ECs/TS are going. They were sad to hear the news about the murder in one of the tent communities; also on the report about the increasing cases of social problems that include child sexual abuse, gender based violence, and the limitations on safety and security rendered by the police officers/establishments.

Richard Rejas of KPMFI then presented an analysis of the livelihood household survey they conducted. He asked for skilled residents who are interested to engage in hollow blocks making. Instantly, 17 listed their names to undergo the orientation set the following the day. Richard also presented the idea of urban gardening: tetra packs, organic fertilizer production and marketing, etc.

At around 3:00 in the afternoon, we met the families of Indahag 2. We were surprised to know about some issues about camp management, some of which about overlapping, conflicting and/or confusing managerial functions and decision making processes. We suggested to momentarily park the discussion about the issue and committed to organize a dialogue among concerned stakeholders, and everyone agreed.

Partnership with Habitat for Humanity

BMFI’s 3rd round of distribution of the repair kits will be under Fund Agreement scheme of Habitat. This means that BMFI will not only distribute the items as was the previous contract but will also canvass and purchase the items. At least 600 kits will be distributed for the 3rd round.

Mr. Dabs Liban of Habitat for Humanity also shared the possibility of connecting BMFI to a partner that may provide funds for livelihood of the families. This, he said, can be used for hollow blocks making and other projects.

Camp Leaders’ Orientation

Balay Mindanaw conducted a session on leadership and camp management attended by around 45 camp leaders in CDO. This was held on 2-3 March 2012 at MASS-SPECC Hostel sponsored by the DSWD and IOM. “Ikot-opis” for the opening activity was done to identify some challenges that are encountered when visiting government offices. The importance of knowing the roles of camp leaders, camp managers, and other external providers was also discussed.

Psycho-Social Support

The Psychosocial Support Team of the Disaster Response, Risk Reduction and Resiliency Building Program focused on three major concerns for the last week: Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support cluster meeting and updating, conduct of PsS Orientation and Debriefing for BM-DRR Team, and community visits.

1. Mental Health and PsychoSocial Support (MHPsS) Cluster Meeting (February 29, 2012, Wednesday, Chali Beach Resort, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City)

The BM DR Team presented to the cluster what BM has been doing recently in the tent communities we have been journeying with. The sharing focused on the regular meetings that we have been conducting in the communities and facilitating the discussions on livelihood prospects for the community members. We shared that there is an on-going rug making project that is being done by the communities and that support in marketing is a concern. A call for support for marketing has been shared and it was one of the concerns agreed upon by the cluster members as well. A plan for the setting up of a stall whereby goods made by the communities could be sold and promoted was discussed.

The cluster also discussed the concern on the promotion of the communities’ awareness on child and women protection as there are already 51 reported cases of suicide and suicide attempts and the rise in the number of persons needing psychiatric assistance in the 41 evacuation centers. Most of these cases are classified as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder while a few are cases of psychosis. Most of the survivors now are challenged on how to move on and be assured of housing support as this is the most pressing concern followed by livelihood. Hence, it has been posed as a challenge for the cluster on how to further provide support on the level of self-confidence, increasing awareness on issues on child and women’s protection, and livelihood as part of the MHPsS.


	Livelihood orientation with KPMFI's Richard Rejas.

The cluster meeting also became a venue for the all the MHPsS groups to share reflection and insights as part of the process of strengthening the group. Dr Benson Go, the Head of the MHPsS, shared that as a cluster, “our continuing presence and support provided to the communities is an act of giving hope to the communities”. Some of the staff from other agencies have moved on and are back to their regular task and it is a challenge for everyone present to continue giving support on a more strategic and effective manner.

As a cluster, there are two major activities to look forward to as part of the continuing support which BM will fully participate: 1. MHPsS Planning focusing on Capacity building and Advocacy. Dr. Benas has accessed Php2 million for the formulation and implementation of MHPsS projects; and 2. Grassroots Training on MHPsS for the Affected Communities.

MHPsS regular activities are: Cluster meetings every Wednesday, Referrals, Psychiatric Clinics by Dr. Go at the DOH every Saturday (9am-12nn), Community Visits, Counseling, Capacity-building, and PsS Interventions by the members in different communities.

2. Orientation on PsychoSocial Support and Intervention

An Orientation on Psycho Social Support has been conducted for BM DRRR Team last Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Peace Room, Balay Mindanaw Peace Center. The activity began with a Circle of Reflection of the staff on their most recent experience in relation to the DR program. The sharing was very rich with feelings and insights on one’s capacity to transform negative experiences into a sources of learning, to articulate one’s ability to act quickly in emergency situations while maintaining inner strength and so on. It was ways of pausing for a moment, reminisce what happened, and move on to the next phase of engagement in different fields. The second part of the activity was an orientation of PsS and a discussion on the pressing concerns especially on the appropriate PSI in the communities we have been accompanying. An assessment tool was presented, and this will be conducted on March 8 and 9 to be supervised by Zarah.

The Team visited the community in Gusa and the Tent Communities in Indahag the following day, March 4, 2012 (Sunday), for updating, follow-up and community building through songs and sharing.

The resource person for the said activity was Zarah Kateleen Alih, an Action Asia Member, ACTS Graduate, and a Mindanaoan. She works for the Jesuit Refugee Services in Bangkok, Thailand.

3. Plan/Activities for the Month:

    March 7 MHPsS Cluster Planning
    March 8-9, 2012 MHPsS Assessment in the Tent Communities (Indahag and Gusa Tent Community)
    March: Grassroots Training by the DOH and MHPsS Cluster
    April: Art Therapy Workshop

Resource Updates on DRR:

As we were finalizing this report, we received two very inspiring emails.

A very good friend, Angge Pacifico Herrera, wrote from Manila saying: “We are ready to send you the funds we have collected from our friends in Europe and our youth groups here in the Philippines.”

Another email came from Arnel Aguinot, President of Filipino-Australian Society of Engineers (FASE), a Kagay-anon, and a high-school classmate of Charmaine Dagapioso-Baconga (Xx). He said: “FASE raised funds to help Sendong victims. At this point in time we are now about to send the funds to Mindanao.”

Last week, we have received the following non-cash items (Feb 27-March 4, 2012):

1 big box used clothing from Araullo High School Class’65
1 big box used clothing, used footwear and toiletries from Gary & Tessie Hawes

As of today, total cash received has reached P2,877,743.67, cash pledges of P79,762.00, and non-cash items worth P8,717.147.00 and non-cash pledges worth P978,500.00, for a Grand Total of P12,653,152.67.

Again, thank you very much…

Balay Mindanaw

Helping Build Empowered and Sustainable Communities in Mindanao. Helping Build Peace.