In early December last year, the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines was hit by Typhoon Bopha (known locally as Typhoon Pablo). This category 5 typhoon was the worst disaster in the world in 2012 by way of lost human lives. However, by the end of last month the UN had received only $38.76 million of the $111.8 million that it had appealed for. The challenge at hand, from the UN’s perspective, is to help build comfortable shelters and provide victims of the disaster with such basic needs as staples, clothing, and health care.
In late December Goducate had visited the affected area to assess what help it could offer, especially in the longer term. Last month Goducate returned with a team of medical personnel and agricultural experts, to attend to the medical needs of and to give advice to the predominantly farming households. Dubbed operation “Lift a Burden”, the team of 30 was helped by 70 on-site volunteers who provided the pre-identified 2,500 victims in the towns of Monkayo, New Bataan, and Nabunturan with relief aid—medicines, rice, groceries, clothes, shoes, and assorted vegetable seeds.
Next, the Goducate Training Center in Iloilo, in partnership with local organizations, hopes to implement a cohesive, holistic, and sustainable program in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, the area worst hit by the disaster. Community development workers trained at the Goducate Training Center will be deployed in Compostela Valley in pro-active and participative initiatives.
