TYPHOON “ONDOY”

       On September 26, 2009 tropical storm “Ondoy” (International name: Ketsana) dumped unusual amount of rain on Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Within a matter of hours, thousands of cubic meters of rain, equivalent to at least several months of rainfall poured into the metropolis. Many were caught unprepared and became victims of the massive destruction wrought by the storm. Streets and houses are under water, raging rivers, creeks, lakes that overflowed its banks, submerged and buried in mud the low-lying subdivisions from neck deep to two story high. It was an extreme unexpected event that restrained even the government’s response capabilities forcing it to appeal for international assistance. Many SSVP members and their family members, relatives and friends were not spared by the storm. Others experienced being trapped in their respective offices without food and water for days, others were stranded on the streets for hours, and many had abandon their cars when it was submerged by flood waters while others bravely waded the waist deep water to buy provisions for their families.

SSVP HELP

       Through text messages, many responded to our appeal for volunteer workers. Young and old SSVP members, parish workers, students, teachers, office personnel including the maintenance crew of Sta. Isabel College and Adamson University, both are Vincentian schools came in full force to pack, repack and distribute relief goods. Everybody believes it’s the least we can do to share in the sufferings of the disaster victims.

       Truckloads of relief goods in sacks were distributed through the assistance of 20 Council and Conference officers and members in the worst hit areas of Pasig City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City, Paranaque City, Cainta, Rizal, Fairview, Quezon City, Manila and Bulacan. Thousands of sacks of relief goods worth P700.00 (US$15.00) per bag consisting of 5 kilos of rice, canned goods, ready to cook noodles, coffee, powdered milk, blanket and bottled water which were expected to last for at least three days consumption were delivered to typhoon victims.

       In the visitation of calamity areas, SSVP gave priority to areas that are not reached by government agencies, NGOs and other charitable institutions. On top of our priority list is a low cost housing project situated near the river bank with 5000 houses. Our volunteer workers trekked winding roads dumped with salvaged belongings of the victims and trudged deep mud to reach and provide relief goods to 105 families who preferred to stay in their homes which were likewise filled with ankle deep mud.

       SSVP Our Lady of the Cenacle and Our Lady of the Globe Conferences, Pasig City joined forces with the Social Service and Development Ministry of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in order to reach more people affected by typhoon “Ondoy.” Chapels were used as distribution Centers where prayers and inspirational talks were delivered before the relief goods distribution. Makeshift bancas were also used to reach families who cannot leave their homes due to the life threatening flood waters and the expensive transportation costs. Doxycycline a prophylaxis for Leptospirosis was also distributed to prevent the spread of deadly virus to people who had no choice but to dip into dirty and stagnant flood waters.

TYPHOON “PEPENG”

       Just as the typhoon victims of Central Luzon and Metro Manila are starting to recover from the typhoon “Ondoy” onslaught, another super typhoon code named “Pepeng” (International name “Lupit”) hit the southern part of Luzon where our Conferences, among others, experienced massive flooding. SSVP Regional Coordinator based in Baguio reported that SSVP members together with their Spiritual Director Fr. Paul Sirac visited and distributed relief goods to the landslide and flash flood victims in Benguet
which is the worst hit area in Region l. Based on assessment of actual situation, funds raised and other donations initially intended for typhoon victims of Manila were instead given to disaster victims in the area. In an effort to provide additional funds needed to provide basic necessities to the calamity victims, SSVP National released to the Baguio Central Council the amount of Php200,000.00.

       Our Conference in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan was the farthest of the calamity areas we visited. More than 4 hours land travel from Manila, we were able to reach the place and delivered the requested relief goods to no less than 300 families living along the river banks. As they have requested, sleeping mats, slippers and medicines for skin diseases were delivered in addition to the usual relief goods.

       In coordination with the Maria, Ina ng Kapayapaan Pastoral Council headed by Fr. Demetrio Suriben Jr. and prospective SSVP youth members from the Homeowners Association of Kasiglahan Village, Brgy. San Jose, Rodriguez (formerly Montalban) Rizal, 100 typhoon “Ondoy” victims from Phase B and D of the village received bags of relief goods from the National Council of the Society. Phase B and D were identified as priority areas during an earlier visitation conducted by SSVP.

       SSVP Conferences in Regions l, 2, 3 & 4 opted to donate goods intended for their regions in favor of their less fortunate brothers in the hard hit areas of the country. Total cash assistance received from Australia (US$60,810.00) and CGI (US$7,204.00)  aggregatedUS$68,014.00 or Php3,158,643.96. Of this amount, Phpl,963,561.13 were spent for relief goods and medicines given to no less than 2,622 families in twenty (20) SSVP Councils/Conferences in the country. The remaining balance of Phpl,195,082.83 has been earmarked for the SSVP Rehabilitation Plan for typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” victims.

REHABILITATION PLAN

1. Construction of the foot bridge which is made of bamboo at the slum area in Purok 2 Sucat, Muntinlupa City near the Laguna Bay. Residents are presently using makeshift bamboo bridges to cross the rising water in Laguna Lake.

2. Medical assistance. Health issues are now a matter of concern and the biggest threat at the moment is the outbreak of leptospirosis which is a disease transmitted to humans through direct exposure to urine or tissue of infected animals specifically rats, mice and even house pets. Typhoon victims who waded or swam in the flood waters are likewise prone to contracting diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, malaria and fungi.

3. Agricultural support like seeds for the farmers. Farmland were sub-merged and crops were destroyed and washed out. Farmers are in need of farm equipments to prepare the land and plant again.

4. Housing materials for repairs or rebuilding of houses. Many are still homeless and hence are still taking shelter in evacuation centers.