Goducate’s Meek and Lowly Community Center in Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna, Philippines, housed local residents who had to evacuate their homes because of two powerful typhoons that have hit the area so far this month.
Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni) was the most powerful storm recorded worldwide this year. It made landfall in the region of Bicol twice and went on to hit land twice more in the region of Calabarzon as a typhoon, before rapidly weakening into a tropical storm over the West Philippines Sea.
Most of the houses in Barangay Tagumpay are not very sturdily built. Hence on Oct 31, before the typhoon began, some people already asked permission to bring their belongings to the Center so that it would be easy for them to evacuate their homes when they needed to. They moved into the Center on Nov 1.
Because of the need to observe social distancing in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Meek and Lowly Community Center could accommodate 23 families (97 individuals) only who needed shelter from Typhoon Rolly. Others had to seek shelter elsewhere. Febie Ibaňez, a Goducate volunteer, together with Goducate scholars, ensured that safety protocols were followed. The Barangay Captain and Rural Health Unit (RHU) medical team visited the evacuees several times to check that conditions were satisfactory.
The Municipal Social and Welfare Development (MSWD) immediately distributed food packs, alcohol-based disinfectants, and face masks. Congresswoman Ruth Hernandez also visited the Center with relief supplies. Through this visit, the congresswoman learnt about life in the village. It led her to invite Goducate to draw up a proposal for the materials needed for the reconstruction of the damaged houses of those evacuees.
The evacuees were able to return home on Nov 2 after a night at the center, but many asked whether they could leave their belongings at the Center until such time as their homes were repaired.
Typhoon Rolly was followed by Typhoons Siony and Tonyo, but these were not severe enough to force the villagers to leave their homes. However, these typhoons were followed by Typhoon Ulysses (international name Vamco), which was as strong as Typhoon Rolly and caused severe flooding also.
During Typhoon Ulysses, 20 families (99 individuals) were admitted to the Meek and Lowly Community Center on Nov 12. There they were visited by Barangay officials, who distributed food packs. Because of concern that the Meek and Lowly Center would soon be flooded, the Barangay officials transferred the evacuees to another center after a couple of days.
Goducate supporters also contributed funds for meals for the families and volunteers.
*Our guest writer is Honeylyn Pereira, a Goducate staff member.