As we come to the end of our four-month IRM assignment in the Philippines, there is wonderful news. The World Renew house design was approved and signed off by a structural engineer, to withstand 250 km/hr winds and zone 4 earthquakes.
As we come to the end of our four-month IRM assignment in the Philippines, there is wonderful news. The World Renew house design was approved and signed off by a structural engineer, to withstand 250 km/hr winds and zone 4 earthquakes. This new design is intended to replace homes that were totally damaged in Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. This engineering certification was the key to moving forward on building sustainable shelter.
With great ceremony and fanfare, the prototype is now under construction in Hagna, Guiuan, East Samar. The prototype serves as a platform for community feedback, which can result in changes to the design. In this case, the house design was modified. Instead of having one wooden wall for ease of adding on, it will have four concrete block walls for maximum resistance against flying debris in future storms. In essence, Yolanda has spoken!
Part of World Renew’s commitment to being transparent and accountable, not only to the donors but also to the beneficiaries, is to publically display information and to give the community an avenue through which they can express their concerns and complaints. This applies to many aspects of the program, not just housing. In the case of shelter, the community information board will include information on the intent of the program, the dates and plan, the list of the beneficiaries, pictures of the house, the location of the prototype, and contact information for expressing concerns and complaints.
We would like to introduce you to two wonderful Filipino survivors. Meet Felicisimo Von Bautista, known as Von. He and his wife Jinky have four children: three boys and one girl.
"Jeffy wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to the whole team of World Renew and to all the donors that are supporting them to ‘stand-up’ again. The Filipino resilience in harsh circumstances continues to amaze us." – Ron and Lauris
Von describes Yolanda as the ‘most horrible, dangerous experience of his lifetime’. Their house was made of bamboo and was quickly destroyed by typhoon Yolanda. In fact, three coco trees fell on the house in the course of the storm.
Fortunately, before Yolanda struck, Von moved his family into his father’s concrete house. The extended family stayed together in one room but soon saw the roof swept away by the strong wind. They covered themselves with a tarpaulin, but it was insufficient for the cold. The children cried and His father prayed to the Lord above to protect them, knowing that at any time they could be injured by flying debris or a falling coco tree.
Happily they all lived. They have since survived on relief items, cash for work and growing vegetables.
Now after seven months of the trauma brought by typhoon Yolanda, Von and his family are still fighting the reality of what has happened. They are now in the process of putting the past behind them because World Renew has given them hope in the present. They are rebuilding their lives. The new house is very strong and will withstand the coming storms.
Von, by a community decision, is the first beneficiary under the sustainable shelter program. He asked to share his thanks to Maam Mona (Program Manager), and the whole staff of World Renew. He is grateful that the Lord above is using World Renew as ‘instruments’ to help his family.
Now meet Jeffy Acuña, a 24-year-old fisherman and father to an 18-month-old son. When Yolanda struck, Jeffy and his wife, Rose, lived in a house made of light-weight materials.
Rose and their baby evacuated to a safe shelter the day before Yolanda but Jeffy opted to stay with their house in the hopes of protecting their meagre belongings. It was an exercise in futility when the storm surge arrived and it was all Jeffy could do to stay alive while being bounced around by the strong currents. He looked for things to hold onto and floated as best he could – fighting with all he had…motivated by his love for his family. Fortunately he survived.
When the wildness subsided, Jeffy went to the evacuation centre to find his family, grateful to be alive. The family's house and fish boat were destroyed. They now live in a tent in a ‘no build zone’ and were recipients of World Renew non-food items and cash-for-work.
The future housing of this family is uncertain. They can't rebuild in this current location, so relocation is one possible outcome.
Life in a tent is very problematic due to the weather conditions such as very intense heat and torrential rains. Insects are a big problem and they get sick often. But this is their new reality and, as he says, he is doing his best and working hard to provide his family’s daily needs despite his lack of resources.
Jeffy was the recipient of a boat from an NGO following the typhoon but he lacks some of the fishing gear to make his livelihood productive. Enter World Renew again.
The fishing gear, which he lacks, will be provided under World Renew’s livelihoods program. Sourcing is underway to fill in the gaps of needed gear for numerous registered fishermen from Baranagay 89 where Jeffy lives.
A few items of gear were sourced locally. We had the pleasure of presenting some items to four fishermen including Jeffy who received a 1,000-metre fishing net. Once the remaining needed items arrive, Jeffy expects his fishing to be far more productive and he looks forward to providing more fully for his family as he did before the typhoon.
Jeffy wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to the whole team of World Renew and to all the donors that are supporting them to ‘stand-up’ again. The Filipino resilience in harsh circumstances continues to amaze us.
The two areas of sustainable shelter and livelihoods, along with repairs to three partially damaged homes in Dulag, compose the precious backdrop to our departure from the Philippines and signs of continuing hope for the future for the survivors of Yolanda.
This experience of walking alongside the survivors of Yolanda has made the words to a song by Hillsongs United even more poignant: The chorus to ‘Still’ says ‘When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father you are King over the flood. I will be still – know you are God.’ Our staff and the congregation of the church we attend sing this with so much heart. They have lived these lyrics.
Yolanda was a thief – but the faith of the people has kept them strong! May they continue to heal, grow and recover with the help of God, World Renew and other agencies who are here to facilitate change including our partner – the Chr
istian Reformed Church of the Philippines and the Integral Alliance. We wish to add our thanks to all the donors who make the response possible. Be assured that you ARE making a difference.
In gratitude,