Hope Bridge's Bintulan Project May 28, 2014

“BUILDING BRIDGES TO RECOVERY”

BINTULAN

Six months after Typhoon Yolanda struck Leyte and Samar, there still remains a need for extensive livelihood support throughout the region. LCDE (Leyte Center for Development) and CDRC (Citizens Disaster Respons Center) through Hope Bridge – Korea began livelihood projects across five project areas in Marabut, Samar as early as February, one of this projects was the construction of a Bintulan “fish trap” for the benefit of Brgy. Tag-alag, a community heavily damaged by the typhoon.

On May 28, 2014, a short program was held in Brgy. San Roque for the Bintulan’s turnover to the communities’ beneficiaries attended by LCDE’s Executive Director Ms. Jazmin Jerusalem and Ms. Edna Luna from CDRC and LCDE staff involved in the project.

The Bintulan is a large fish trap that is installed offshore with a depth ranging from 15 to 20 meters. Materials used are coconut lumber, bamboo, nets and nylon cords. Catching fish with the bitulan is usually done at night and early dawn as fishermen use kerosene lamps to attract fish and trap them inside. 

The principal goal of this project is to answer Brgy. Tag-Alag’s lack of sources of food from the sea due to its high price in the local market. Non-members of the organization will also benefit from the low price of catch the bintulan will offer.

Tag-Alag’s organization has a policy which encourages all members to participate on operations of the Bintulan, profit from a days catch is divided among the four people who manned the bintulan. This project was made possible due to the strong presence of it organization, where almost everyone in the community are members.

By Reniel Sanica, LCDE Regional Administrative Officer

Translation - Carlo Jerusalem, LCDE Advocacy Coordinator

LCDE 2014 Summer Youth Camp

LCDE, 2014 SUMMER YOUTH CAMP

SILAGO, SOUTHERN LEYTE – From May 14-18, 2014 LCDE held a Summer Youth Camp in Silago which aims to raise the awareness of participants on PLAN and LCDE’s project through the activities’ theme of “Setting Direction for Development”. Participants were youth from LCDE’s project areas in Silago aged 12 to 22. PLAN Philippines and LCDE have been partners since 2012 implementing their project entitled “Adaptation to Climate Change by Strengthening Natural Resilience” funded and supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Youth Camp began with post typhoon updates and was followed with activities such as plays, community broadcast workshops, song writing, poetry, and visual arts, where participants were given the choice of events to take part in. All these were aimed to increase the awareness and capacity of youth to actively participate in being advocates for climate change by developing various technical and organizational skills which lasted for five (5) days.

Participants were very grateful as not all of them are always given the opportunity to engage in skill building activities. LCDE also provided expert facilitators from DAWATAN Northern Samar Arts Council, Inc for theatrical activities, Young Heart PLAN for videography, photography and song writing; and FARDEC a known NGO based in Cebu that implements Food Security programs. 

LCDE and CARE completes initial cash distributions for Yolanda victims in Basey, Samar

LCDE and CARE completes initial cash distributions for Yolanda victims in Basey, Samar

By Carlo Jerusalem

LCDE Advocacy Officer

Leyte Center for Development (LCDE), a disaster response and mitigation NGO; and CARE International, a humanitarian NGO, began the first phase of their livelihood program for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda as early as March which was composed of cash grants to selected beneficiaries in multiple barangays in Basey, Samar. The cash grant is part of CARE and LCDE’s span of activities which aims to help beneficiaries recover or start new livelihoods which includes trainings in order to increase the resilience of the community and its livelihoods against natural and man-made disasters.

LCDE has a project team leader and several field staff in place which implements and ensures CARE’s livelihood program is going as intended, alongside close coordination with CARE personnel. Much of the success of the opening programs phase is also due to established PO (Peasant Organization) in the project area which assisted in some aspects of the project. Beneficiaries were selected based on a criteria developed by CARE, to guarantee that the cash grant is given to qualified members of the community. Each beneficiary will receive 3,000.00 Php to be used in expenditures concerning their livelihoods. 

The first cash distribution began on March 14, 2014 in Barangay Mabini with Cluster one (1) composed of Barangay Mabini, Sitios Bagti, Biga, Burabod, Binugho and Barangay Manlilinab, the second distribution was held on May 6, 2014 in Sitio Can-umran with Cluster two (2) composed of Sitios Guinpongduan, Rizal, Can-umran, Rono, and Cambabang; Cluster three (3) which is composed of Barangays Cancaiyas, Cogon and Sitio Lanaga received cash grants on May 8, 2014 in Barangay Cogon. Cluster four (4) composed of Barangay Villa Aurora, Sitio Lubang and Macaranas received their cash on May 19, 2014, thus ending the first phase of the livelihood program.

Project areas of LCDE and CARE in Basey suffered immense damage to their livelihoods due to Typhoon Yolanda, especially since much of the communities’ main sources of livelihoods are agriculturally based. Almost all the beneficiaries were unable to restart their respective livelihoods before the advent of CARE’s cash grant, which is a sign of the Philippine government’s inability to respond to the needs of its citizens during severe natural calamities. Although there are visible indications of the government stepping up their efforts, most of the recovery and rehabilitation in affected areas are still mostly handled by local and international NGO’s.

April 25, 2014 Hope Bridge Turnover Ceremony

Hope Bridge Project Turnover in Marabut, Samar

Ceremony venue in Barangay San Roque

MARABUT, SAMAR – On April 25, 2014 representatives from Hope Bridge – Korea held a turnover ceremony for their project through LCDE (Leyte Center for Development) and CDRC (Citizens Disaster Response Center) in a seaside venue close to Barangay San Roque. Thirty (30) motorboats, complete with engines, and fishing nets, for crabs and fish, were each given to each of the fisher-folk beneficiaries; farm tools were also dispersed to Hope Bridge’s target barangays in Marabut which are Caluwayan, San Roque, Viloso, Legaspi and Tagalag. Various school supplies and t-shirts (bearing inspiring prints) were also distributed to 500 children of Marabut. Present in the occasion were Hope Bridge’s Director, staff and a film crew which arrived a day before, CDRC and LCDE’s Directors and staff were also onsite and were part of the preparations for the event. 

Aside from the formal turnover, a program was also held which lasted all throughout the day which started in the morning with the blessing of the boats by a local priest, then followed by messages from Hope Bridges Board Director Dr. Su-yun Chae, CDRC’s Executive director Ms. Suyin Jamoralin and Marabut’s Mayor Percival Ortillo; two beneficiaries each representing the fishing and farming sector also extended their thanks. 

Beneficiairy with Hope Bridge's Director Dr. Su-yun and CDRC's Ms. Jamoralin

One of the programs highlights was a presentation by a charming group of children who sang “We are the World” and lit up the whole crowd with cheers and smiles. After the presentation the turnover ceremony began in earnest, where a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the beneficiaries and LCDE detailing the rules and obligations that have to be fulfilled in order to be granted the assistance the project provides. After signing, beneficiaries received their motorboats and fishing nets on the shoreline followed by closing remarks by LCDE’s Executive director Ms. Jazmin Jerusalem, thus ending the formal portion of the ceremony by mid-afternoon. What came next were social activities for both the project staff (Hope Bridge, LCDE and CDRC) and beneficiaries alike, which included games and dancing. 

Beneficiary with his newly acquired motorboat.

Overall the project achieved all that Hope Bridge, LCDE, and CDRC were looking forward to, which is to provide aid to target communities in Marabut and alleviate the lack of comprehensive livelihood support in the area, although the project cannot possibly cover the whole of Marabut, Samar LCDE hopes that this can serve as call to other NGO’s and especially the National government to make concrete steps towards helping Marabut get back up on its feet, this call also goes out for all the other devastated communities in Eastern Visayas which have yet to receive proper aid and support. 

By: Carlo A. Jerusalem

LCDE Advocacy Officer

Peace Winds – Japan, through LCDE and CDRC provide homes for Typhoon Haiyan’s victims in Carigara, Leyte

Peace Winds – Japan, through LCDE and CDRC provide homes for Typhoon Haiyan’s victims in Carigara, Leyte 

February 18, 2014 distribution of shelter materials.

CARIGARA, LEYTE – LCDE (Leyte Centre for Developent) a disaster response and mitigation NGO along with its national partner CDRC (Citizens Disaster Response Centre) have joined Peace Winds – Japan, an NGO that operates across the world providing humanitarian aid, to help in their efforts to give homes to the people of Carigara that were severely stricken by Typhoon Haiyan

The Project

Peace Winds through its local partnership with Leyte Centre for Development and Citizens Disaster Response Centre, are currently implementing shelter assistance projects in 26 barangays in Carigara, Leyte with a total of 690 households that will benefit from it. Beneficiaries chosen were those whose houses were totally damaged and have no capacity to rebuild, assistance for the selection was provided MOFAC (Municipal Farmers Association of Carigara) a local people’s organization. They received from Peace Winds shelter materials consisting of cement, cocolumber (posts), plywood, GI sheets and basic carpentry tools enough to construct a house that will provide them with a decent home. 

LCDE, CDRC and Peace Winds project staff began the program on January 15 laying the groundwork for the project, preparing and selecting target areas in Carigara. On February 18 the first batch of beneficiaries numbering 301 households composed of 5 barangays, received their shelter materials. The second batch which numbers 389 households from 21 barangays are due to receive their shelter materials on March 26. The project will end by May 15, which also will include the complete repair of two Daycare Centers in Carigara.

One of the hoses constructed by beneficiaries nearing completion. (Photo taken on April 7, 2014)

Different Approach

 It should be noted that the nature of Peace Winds’ program will require beneficiaries to construct a house using the materials provided under close guidance by a monitoring team selected by LCDE and CDRC field staff. The monitoring team consists of skilled carpenters and a locally appointed engineer who will be regularly onsite in project areas. Peace Winds, LCDE and CDRC intended the project to be this way to avoid problems and ensure all shelter materials distributed are fully utilized.   

By: Carlo Jerusalem

LCDE Advocacy Officer

CARE and LCDE’s livelihood assistance in Basey, Samar

CARE and LCDE’s livelihood assistance in Basey, Samar

March 14, 2014 CARE cash grants in Barangay Mabini.

BASEY, SAMAR – As part of CARE and LCDE’s (Leyte Centre for Development) continued assistance to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), have begun livelihood intervention projects in selected communities in Basey, Samar.

CARE is an international organization that sees action across the world that range from emergency relief operations to rehabilitation programs. Since Haiyan struck, CARE has been working closely with LCDE serving as its local counterpart, to conduct relief missions to affected communities all across Eastern Visayas. LCDE is a local NGO based in Palo, Leyte which focuses on disaster response and risk management, and has been involved with various relief activities with CARE and various international organizations since the time when the typhoon hit the region. At the present both organizations have now transitioned to rehabilitation projects.

CARE and LCDE are currently engaged in livelihood assistance programs that will encompass 10 barangays and 18 sitios in Basey, Samar with LCDE field staff conducting the program. The project will be composed of multiple phases; with the first being cash grants worth three thousand pesos (3,000 php) to selected beneficiaries with the help of OCCI a local cooperative bank. This will be the basis on what the following phases will be comprised of. Beneficiaries were selected according to a criteria that’s assesses the households source of income per month and vulnerabilities (disabilities, pregnant women, etc.).The project started on March 10, 2014 and is expected to be completed at May 27, 2014.

Cash grants have been completed in Barangay Mabini for 358 households, other sitios that are slated for the project are Sitio Can-umran, Cambabang, Rono, Rizal, and Guinpongduan. 

Beneficiaries falling in line in Barangay Mabini.

Alfredo Abgao, is 48 year old farmer from Barangay Mabini with 5 children and says “The cash grant from CARE and LCDE is really a big help for me and my family as I have five children who depend on me, I will also use the money I received to buy palay seeds, fertilizer and farm tools”. People interviewed in the community mirror his story, with many of them earning barely enough to support their families. Such is the situation that is prevalent Basey which is why it immediately became one of LCDE and CARE’s priority areas for livelihood intervention.

By: Carlo Jerusalem

LCDE Advocacy Officer

Hope Bridge, LCDE and CDRC’s livelihood assistance to Typhoon Haiyan’s victims in Marabut

Hope Bridge, LCDE and CDRC’s livelihood assistance to Typhoon Haiyan’s victims in Marabut, Samar

Hope Bridge/LCDE staff holding an assembly in
Barangay Tag-Alag, one of Hope Bridges project ares.

MARABUT, SAMAR – Since February 15 Hope Bridge and LCDE have begun area preparations for their planned early recovery livelihood assistance throughout five communities in Marabut, Samar.

This project is made possible through the concerted efforts between Leyte Centre for Development (LCDE), Citizens Disaster Response Centre (CDRC) and Hope Bridge – Korea. LCDE is an organization focused on Disaster Risk Management and Mitigation activities which include emergency response and rehabilitation; LCDE is also part of CDRC’s nationwide network of similar NGO’s with CDRC being LCDE’s national counterpart which coordinates the activities of all its partners across the Philippines, CDRC is an NGO which promotes community-based disaster management and responds to major disasters in the country whereas Hope Bridge – Korea is an NGO based in Seoul which was established as a domestic and international disaster relief aid organization.

The Program

Hope Bridge – Korea has been in Leyte and Samar as early as November, barely a week after the typhoon struck, and has conducted emergency relief activities with LCDE and CDRC in Eastern Visayas; as part of their support for the region they have, through a close partnership with LCDE, started early livelihood recovery projects in Marabut, Samar, a coastal town devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Selected beneficiaries from San Roque, Tag-Alag, Caluwayan, Veloso and Legaspi will receive livelihood aid composed of fishing boats and equipment for fishermen while farmer beneficiaries will get rice seeds and farm tools. LCDE have field staff that are constantly on the project sites to validate data, implement and ensure the success of the program. Hope Bridges program is expected to be completed before the end of May.

Urgency

According LCDE’s field staff deployed in Marabut, there is a sore lack of government aid to communities there with only the large international NGO’s having any real impact and presence in the area. Some complaints about government intervention range from the absence of any systematized aid to the lack of livelihood assistance which is what is most needed by the people. Most of the residents of Marabut lost their capacity to restart their livelihoods which are usually agriculturally based (farming, copra etc.), and without immediate mediation could result in widespread starvation. 

By: Carlo Jerusalem

LCDE Advocacy Officer

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe through Leyte Center for Development distributes vegetable seeds in Carigara (March 13)

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe through Leyte Center for Development distributes vegetable seeds in Carigara

BARANGAY CANLAMPAY, CARIGARA – On March 13, 2014, Thursday, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) along with Leyte Center for Development inc. (LCDE) and Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC) staff conducted vegetable seed distributions in Barangay Canlampay in Carigara, Leyte as part of their early recovery assistance programs for affected communities in Eastern Visayas by Typhoon Haiyan, where 298 households were served.

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is a German aid organization which is part of ACT (Action by Churches Together), a global alliance of churches and relief agencies in the area of humanitarian aid whereas LCDE and its national partner CDRC are both disaster response and risk management institutions which belong to a countrywide network of similar organizations. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is working closely with both LCDE and CDRC in the implementation of its projects and services in Eastern Visayas.

Lack of Alternate Livelihoods

Residents of Barangay Canlampay, suffered major damage to their crops from the storm; effectively crippling their primary source of livelihood, their situation mirrors that of the many communities in the region at the present. With very limited opportunities for other alternative means of income, planting and cultivating vegetables is a low cost and effective way for people to support themselves while on their road to recovery, whether it be finding another livelihood or restoring their old one.

According LCDE and CDRC project officers barely only ¼ of the total residents in Barangay Canlampay have begun planting rice, and as farming is their principal livelihood many people are now left with no other ways of making a living. To make matters worse much of the residents are tenants who are already deep in debt, without a proper harvest, paying these off will be near impossible. 

Vegetable Seeds

Pedro Olidan a 74 year old farmer and resident of Barangay Canlampay said “With my crops destroyed, and with nothing else to turn too, I am forced to ask help from my children who have work, as farming is the only work I know”. When asked about his thoughts on DKH’s vegetable seed distribution, Pedro was ecstatic and grateful as planting vegetables will give him a measure of self-sufficiency and help him save money from the ever increasing prices of vegetables in the market. He plans to plant the seeds given to him in a plot behind his house.

His story is comparable to many of the residents of Barangay Canlampay, where they consider planting vegetables a viable means of livelihood assistance and a great deal of help in their efforts to rebuild their community. The people of Canlampay are thankful for the vegetable seeds as Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is the first organization to provide this kind of livelihood aid in their area since Typhoon Haiyan hit Leyte.

By: Carlo A. Jerusalem

      LCDE Advocacy Officer

LCDE, CDRC and foreign partners continue aid for Yolanda survivors (Press Release)

LCDE, CDRC and foreign partners continue aid for Yolanda survivors

Relief operation held in Barangay Cabuynan, Tanauan, Leyte on December 25, 2013.

PALO, LEYTE - LCDE (Leyte Centre for Development inc.) is a non-profit organization which has been serving the region of Samar and Leyte for over 27 years and focuses on DRM (Disaster Risk Management) activities which include Emergency Disaster Response and Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation. This are all centred on LCDE’s mission to serve the basic and marginalized sectors and their communities by helping them collectively rehabilitate themselves after every disaster and sustaining their efforts for a better quality of life.

Emergency Response

Since Typhoon Haiyan struck last November 8, 2013 LCDE has responded with emergency relief operations throughout the breadth of Eastern Visayas, helping communities get back on their feet from the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan. To date LCDE, along with its national partner CDRC (Citizens Disaster Response Network), and foreign donors namely; Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe from Germany, CARE international, Mercy Relief Singapore, Hoper Bridge Korea, Peace Winds and Civic Force Japan, World Jewish Relief- United Kingdom have served over 21,000 families across 13 towns and 56 barangays in Region VIII.

Among the first wave of relief operations were the distribution of basic commodities consisting of 10 to 25 kilos of rice, assorted canned goods (up to six cans per relief pack), 1 kilo of dried fish, tarpaulin sheets for roofing, used clothing and packs of cooking oil and salt while some selected areas also received tents.

Rehabilitation

Presently, LCDE has now transitioned from relief operations to early recovery assistance which involves distribution of shelter repair kits, rice and vegetable seeds, farm tool sets across multiple project areas and is working closely with its national and foreign partners. Livelihood support for the first phase will be realized in at least 65 communities in 11 municipalities of Samar and Leyte. Shelter assistance will range from shelter kit distributions to semi-permanent houses.

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe seed dispersal in Barangay Canlampay, Carigara, Leyte, conducted on March 14, 2014.

Future projects of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe in partnership with LCDE includes the distribution of transitory shelter materials, livelihood assistance and psychosocial services for selected  affected communities which includes  the towns of Jaro, Albuera, Ormoc,  San Isidro and Carigara in Leyte, Quinapundan and Gen Mac Arthur in Eastern Samar and San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao in Western Samar.  

Other foreign donors of LCDe are the following:

CARE international will be distributing livelihood assistance and cash grants to affected families in the barangays of Mabini, Manlilinab, Cogon, Cancaiyas, Bulao, Bariwan, Guirang and Villa Aurora, all located in Basey, Samar.

Hope Bridge Korea has planned distributions of fishing and farming implements in barangays San Roque, Tag-alag, Viloso and Legaspi all in Marabut, Samar, Civic Force Japan distributed rice, vegetable seeds and farm tools through their early recovery assistance operations in Alang-alang, Leyte while Peace Winds Japan has begun shelter-kit distributions in selected communities in Carigara, Leyte as well.

LCDE and its partner CDRC are currently engaged in these five major rehabilitation programs, with their staff serving as ground teams coordinating and implementing said projects by their foreign partners.

By: Carlo Jerusalem 

      LCDE Advocacy Officer

Forward unto Dawn

LCDE relief operation in San Antonio,Basey, Samar.

Forward unto Dawn – What LCDE has achieved so far

“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them.

Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but
for the heart to conquer it.” 

-  Rabindranath Tagore

 

Albuera, Leyte relief mission.

            PALO, LEYTE - It has been more than a hundred days since Typhoon Haiyan laid waste to much of Eastern Visayas, it too has been more than a hundred days since Leyte Center for Development faced and overcame the challenges that arose.

          We began our relief efforts as early as November 17, 2013 with the help of our local and foreign partners in Tanauan, which was one of the most heavily devastated areas in Leyte. Coordination between our counterparts and even amongst ourselves during this period was marred with numerous difficulties, as communication and transport were some of the most immediate problems we faced, some of us had to walk several kilometers to get to anywhere (which was very dangerous as there was widespread civil disorder in many places at this time), it also did not help that communication was close to non-existent as almost all cellphone networks and telephone lines were completely damaged across Eastern Visayas. Not that any of this had any serious impact against our efforts.

 

Calbiga releif mission, held on February 14.

Relief mission, in Guirang, Basey, Samar.

Relief mission in Hernani, Eastern Samar

    

               Our office in Palo, Leyte was not spared from Typhoon Haiyans’ onslaught and neither were many of our staff’s homes. Even so, we carried on and worked in makeshift tents, huts, and even through the night. As days went by relief aid began arriving from our foreign donors and we were confronted with the task of making sure these goods arrive to intended areas and beneficiaries, this in itself is labor intensive as it is in our practice to carefully prepare an area before implementing projects and holding disaster response activities. Almost all our staff were working double shifts and performing multi-roles all across Leyte and Samar, since we began to expand our operations as the month of November came to a close.

                 Much of the goods we distributed included rice ranging from 10 to 25 kilos, with the minimum being 10 kilos, assorted canned goods up to six per relief pack, 1 kilo of dried fish, tarpoline sheets for roofing, used clothing, and packs of cooking oil and salt. Some selected areas also received tents.

Marabut, Samar relief operation.

           December and January turned out to be even busier months for us as more and more of our partners looked to us to help facilitate and execute relief missions, of note are Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) from Germany, CARE International, Civic Force - Japan, Peace Winds - Japan and MERCY Relief Singapore. At the onset, barely a week after the storm, these organizations were already here laying down the groundwork for their planned disaster intervention activities. With the help of volunteers, staff from Citizens Disaster Response Center and our other affiliate NGOs from all across the Philippines, we accomplished what we set out to do, and have served at the present over 27,000 households from 11 major towns and 70 barangays all over Eastern Visayas and counting.

by: Carlo A. Jerusalem
      LCDE Advocacy Officer

Palo, Leyte relief operation.

Cabuynan, Tanauan relief mission.