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