We refuse to be victims. We choose to be resources.
We would like to share with you this first report of our modest initiatives as our own way of joining the peoples and communities in responding to the emergency situation brought about by Super Typhoon Pablo (Bopha).
Summary Information
Type of Emergency:
Date and time occurred: 2AM, 4 December 2012
Communities/Barangays/Areas affected: Dumaguete City; Guiuan, Borongon; Eastern Samar; Nabuntaran, Comval Province; Municipalities of Baganga and Mati Davao Oriental; Hinatuan, Lianga, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur; Bukidnon; Misamis Oriental and Occidental; Lanao del Norte and Sur; Zamboanga del Sur; Cagayan de Oro CitySituation Overview:The Super Typhoon “Pablo”, forecast to be the strongest storm to hit the country this year has finally made its landfall early Tuesday, 4 December in Mindanao. It pounded Mindanao’s major provinces such as Surigao, Agusan, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Lanao, and Zamboanga.For the period under consideration, several evacuees (still increasing) were forcibly brought to the designated evacuation centers by their local disaster risk reduction and management councils for protection or safety. The nearby rivers have to a significant level increased – that really have the same indicators with that of TS Sendong, the previous year.The Bubunawan and Dumalaong rivers’ water level have already risen twice the height of what was experienced during TS Sendong. These are rivers going down to the Cagayan de Oro Riverbasin; water level in Bubunawan River is critical as it will greatly affect the water level being its outlet. It is rumored that the water in Bubunawan Dam has already been released, feared to cause sudden rise of water among major tributaries of the CDO river basin.As of 12nn in CARAGA (Region XIII), the National Road Junction Pulang Lupa, Sta. Josefa road in Barangay Sta. Isabel, Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur is hardly passable due to damaged roads due to heavy rains. Most of the residents have been forcibly transported to the municipal gym for safety. Because of its location being a river-town, the entire municipality ran out of food.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Surigao del Sur through its SP Resolution No. 1143 has already declared State of Calamity in the entire province – at least 30 houses in the coastal areas of Cagwait and Lianga have been totally-damaged. This including their fishing gears and vessels.
In these areas, 148 rolling cargoes, 93 vessels and 49 motorized bancas (canoes) have been prevented from leaving port; a total of 65 flights have been cancelled; classes in all levels have been suspended.
Generally, four regions are greatly affected in Mindanao – 10 provinces; 6 cities; 21 municipalities and 54 barangays as of 12nn today.
Effects:
A.No. of people currently affected
I. Affected population: (As of 12nn 04 December 2012)
•11,871 families or 57,501 persons have already been affected in Regions VIII, X, XI and XIII
•3,268 passengers are stranded all over the Philippines
II.Movement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs):
•In Cagayan de Oro City alone 7,110 families or 25,214 individuals have voluntarily or are forced to evacuate to designated evacuation centers.
III.Casualties:
•Two have already died in Davao Oriental
B.Damages
•Infrastructure: Still under assessment
•Houses: At least four houses have been totally damaged in Barangay Calaanan, CDO due to landslide with no casualty reported; 30 houses in the coastal areas of Surigao totally-damaged; 90% of the houses in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur have been partially damaged due to heavy downpours.
•Electricity: Blackout in most areas in Cagayan de Oro City, Surigao, and Misamis Oriental since the morning of 4 December;
•Agriculture: At least 40 hectares of corn, about to be harvested in January next year has been totally damaged in Sumilao, Bukidnon. Balay Mindanaw’s PO partner, the Mapalad Multi-purpose Cooperative has reported that flashfloods have caused the said damage.
C.Urgent Needs
•FOOD ITEMS: hot meals, food packs, drinking water, milk supplement
•NON-FOOD ITEMS: flashlights, water purifiers, sleeping mats and/or blankets, mosquito nets
•HYGIENE KITS: bath and laundry soap, toothbrush/toothpaste, sanitary napkins
•FIRST AID KITS/MEDICINE: alcohol, betadine, bandage plaster, gauze bandage, medicine for fever, diarrhea, colds and cough especially for children and the elderly
•KITCHEN WARES: plates, drinking glasses, water container/jugs, pail
•LIVELIHOOD: cash crops and working animals; financial assistance/seed capital for small vendors; fishing gears and vessels for fisherfolks
•SHELTER: repair kits for partially damaged houses; permanent shelter for totally-damaged houses; relocation sites for houses built along the riverbanks or no build zones/easement areas
I.Government Action
Notably, most of the local disaster risk reduction and management councils are more vigilant and responsible at this period under consideration. Unlike when TS Sendong (international: Washi) hit these same regions, it was the International NGOs thru the UN-OCHA that led the overall coordination. The LGUs have been very dilly-dallying with their emergency responses that among others, have caused the loss of more than a thousand of lives and damaged millions of properties.
This time, the designated evacuation centers have been prepared; search and rescue teams and other logistical needs have been set up. The AFP personnel are roving the streets of Cagayan de Oro City to immediately respond to whatever need arises.
Each municipality in the above mentioned regions have set up the Operation Centers. Commanders are closely monitoring and coordinating with the Local Government Units and the Police to ensure safety of civilians; they were closely monitoring the water level at coastal towns and road bridges within their respective areas of responsibility.
III. Action/s Taken
Balay Mindanaw’s Team for Disaster Response, Risk Reduction and Management, and Resiliency building (DRRRMRB) first and foremost secured its members especially those located near the river barangays of CDO. Once again just like the previous year when TS Sendong hit CDO and other adjacent locations, BMFI offered its Peace Center as the BM staff members’ families’ refuge i.e., accommodation and meals. As of today, a total of 33 families or 160 individuals are staying in the center including children and the elderly.
BMFI-DR Command and Operations Center has been created with the following teams: Information Management, Operations, Logistics and Inventory, and Linkaging/networking. The Community-based Teams such as Balay CaLia for Cagwait and Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Balay Gingoog; Balay Misamis Oriental Eastern Towns (MisOrET); and Team CDO have been advised to keep at their posts for a more speedy and accurate situation reports.
