October 25, 2013 – 6PM
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Dear Partners and Friends,
Balay Mindanaw is still continuing its efforts to provide relief to communities affected by the Magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol and other parts of the Visayas on October 15, 2013. In our previous updates, we have mentioned that our focus barangay has been identified as Barangay Santo Rosario in the Municipality of Antequera. The bulk of our relief efforts will be focused here. However, we will also be providing assistance to other areas in Antequera and Loon. In the meantime, a second team from Balay Mindanaw is prepared to depart soon to relieve some of the members of the first team. Please read our team updates below:
Day 7 Updates from DREAM Team Bohol
1. SHELTER
The tent community shall soon be established in 3 areas in the Municipality of Loon:
a. Catagbacan North Central School – 40 households
b. Basac – 25 households
c. Moto Sur – 50 households
Ed and Bau recommended these sites with the active support of the Mayor, Hon. Olympio Lopez. In yesterday’s meeting with the Punong Barangays organized by the Mayor, the LGU committed to set up the communal facilities such as the kitchen, toilets, bathe and the water stations. The PhIVOLCS they said ordered for the total evacuation of some 330 residents of Barangay Napo; this is one of the 9 barangays declared as “no entry barangay” for the emerging of big sinkholes and for experiencing sudden change of seawater level and land structure.They were able to attend a meeting with the Village Captains with the Mayor.
The Rotary Club of Tagbilaran thru its Senior Assistant Governor, Ms Baby Louella G. Bantol expressed their support. According to Ed, they seem amenable to the idea of adopting the 3 tent communities in time BMG phases out its direct interventions.
As cited in the previous reports, the Municipality of Loon and Antequera are 2 of the hardest hit in the entire province of Bohol. Loon has 60 dead; 144 injured; 7 retrieved; 2 missing; with 6 barangays having experienced major landslides. Antequera on the other hand, has 15 dead; 19 injured; 1 missing. About 90% Damage in Infrastructure.
The DSWD’s criteria in identifying the totally damaged or partially damaged houses has caused confusions among residents. This matters most especially that they be given cash for the cost of repairs, etc.
ACTIVITY for TODAY:
Bau, Ed, Kris and Cliff shall go back to Loon to come up with an actual mapping of each of the 3 tent communities. The Mayor also committed to provide us the masterlist of IDPs together with the Village Captains for possible potential tent communities.
2. DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD and Non-FOOD/HYGIENE ITEMS
Punong Barangay Meliton Tolop of Barangay Sto. Rosario, Antequera met us up for their validated masterlist of affected families. He also committed to provide for the trucking service of the goods for distribution today.
Chris, Celoy, Bernard, Jowjow, Bibing and three youth volunteers will facilitate the first wave of distribution of food and nonfood items to some 120 families in Barangay Sto. Rosario this afternoon.
3. SETTING UP OF THE OPERATIONS CENTER
Related DR forms, tarps, volunteers’ logbook are some of the items prepared by Chris, Jowjow, Celoy and Bernard. More volunteers are coming from the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran; this in addition to the first 24 who committed to come anytime we need their assistance.
4. NETWORKING and LINKAGING
Thanks to Boholunteers for the overwhelming support to BMG. They shared with us their office base and provided us their volunteers.
BMG shall continue linking up with both Bohol CSOs and LGUs hoping to help finally set up the appropriate coordination system – the Clustering Approach. Up to this time, this seems to be a continuing challenge.
Salamatest!
Team plans:
While in Bohol, we intend to maximize local volunteers and send waves of at least 6 of our staff (initially in two-week shifts, but may depend on the situation) with the following roles:
– Coordinator
– Admin/finance
– Logistics
– Antequera field coordinator
– Loon field coordinator
– Networking
Immediate needs identified:
– Food
– Temporary shelters/tents
– Hygiene kits and non-food items
– Blankets
Additional logistical needs as we continue with our emergency response:
– Printer with extra ink
– Solar lights
– Generator set
We are working and coordinating with the following groups:
- Disaster Aid International Response Team (DART)
- LGUs (Barangay Chairs, Mayors, Governor), AFP, CSOs, other institutions and individuals on the ground
- Bangon Maribojoc
- Boholunteers
- Bangon volunteers
- Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)
- Civic education and democracy of Ate Mytee
- Marine conservation group of Jong Rojas
- Misereor partners c/o Ira Pamat and Francis of Bohol Integrated Development Foundation, Inc. (BIDEF). They are based in the cathedral working with Social Action Center (SAC) and the Bishop. Womens Development Center Bohol is focusing on San Isidro and Antequera. While BIDEF is focusing on Loon.
- Fr. Desidereo “Kiking” Magdusa of our Lady of Lourdes, who is also working with Bishop thru SAC.
- We have also coordinated with the ICP and local government units.
- Tindog Bohol – a Gingoog-based partnership initiative to raise contributions for relief in Bohol
- Tabang-Bohol – An Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro-initiated collaboration to raise contributions for relief in Bohol
Updates from the Support Team based in Cagayan de Oro:
This morning, the Balay Mindanaw Group met in Cagayan de Oro. A detailed update regarding the situation in Bohol was given by Richard Rejas and Kaloy Manlupig. The next team arranged to leave for Bohol will be composed of Lala, Regine, Ani and Lycel and will be departing tomorrow evening for Tagbilaran. They will be staying in Bohol for two weeks.
The support team is now working on the following issues:
– Immediate acknowledgement of donors
– Posting additional donation information on the website, particularly for international donors
– Exploring other options for donation
Note: As of now, the preferred avenue for international donation is via Western Union.
– Options for transportation of relief goods
Available Resources:
Donations and Pledges for Balay Mindanaw Disaster Response:
- Tata Otero 4,000
- Oona Paredes – unspecified amount
- Vicky Walo – unspecified amount
- Corazon Zamora USD1,000
- Friends in US – unspecified amount
- Thomas Boehlke P10,000
- Goldie Chan – P5,000 c/o km
- Anonymous – P20,000 delivered to BM
From Partner Institutions:
1. Johanniter – 240,000 euros
2. DAI, Items ready to be sent:
- 200 lifeboxes
- Tents
- Family packs
- Schools / First aid stations
- Sky Hydrants
- Solar gems (solar powered lights)
3. Del Monte committed to give juices as relief goods
Others:
- Logistics: 2GO committed to allow us to use scat – to transport relief goods, volunteers, light equipment
- Logistics: KOC Parish offered by Fr. Magdusa as operational center together with other volunteer groups
- Human Resources: local volunteers ready for mobilization
- Resource Mobilization: Tindog Bohol – a joint movement by KPMFI/BMG, Gingoog CDRRMC, Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish of Gingoog City, the Philippine Red Cross – Gingoog City Chapter, and the Gingoog Bay Rotary Club
- Human Resources: VOICE Network volunteer deployed to the area, more standby volunteers are availablec/o VOICE Network through Myrna Siose
Summary of initiatives done to date:
- First wave of relief distribution done in Sto. Rosario (we will be giving details tomorrow)
- Purchasing of goods for first wave of relief ongoing
- Focus barangay identified, as well as additional recipients of relief
- Ongoing coordination with other CSOs, LGUs and relief groups
- Exploration of routes for transport of volunteers/goods done
- Continuing resource mobilization.
- Continuing assessment by QAT in Bohol.
- Area visits done in three municipalities in Bohol.
- Canvassing of sources of relief goods done.
- Continuing establishment of partnerships/connections with existing and potential local partners (see QAT report above)
For those who wish to extend assistance, and who already have direct links with local groups already operating in the disaster areas, we suggest that you send your support directly to them.
For those who wish to send their financial support thru Balay Mindanaw, kindly send your donations to:
Peso Account
Account No. 1768022630
Account Name: Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc.,
BDO Xavier Branch Cagayan de Oro City
Dollar Account
Account No. 101760196639
Account Name: Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.
Swift Code: BNORPHMM
BDO – Xavier Branch – Cagayan de Oro City
Euro Account
Account No. 301760191866
Swift Code: BNORPHMM
Account Name: Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.
BDO Xavier Branch – Cagayan de Oro City
You may also send other forms of support to:
Balay Mindanaw
53A, 12th Street, Zone 2, Upper Bulua,
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
You may also call:
Landline: +63 8822 735946
Mobile phone: +639189182864 (amy salas)
+639177176000 (kaloy)
+639399151592 (bibing mordeno)
+639278165957 (pinky fabe)
For those in Gingoog City, you can donate through the Tindog Bohol Movement:
Cash donations:
Drop in any TINDOG BOHOL bottles located near you
(Bank details to follow)
In kind donations:
City Disaster Risk Reduction Office
Ground Floor, New BFP Building
Barangay 23, Gingoog City
Or you may also contact:
Mobile number: 09363361211
Email: tindogbohol@yahoo.com
Thank you very much.
We refuse to be victims. We choose to be resources.