Soliman: Let’s look beyond Tacloban

 

MANILA, Philippines – Six months after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) ravaged several areas in Visayas, survivors remain homeless, jobless, and hungry. 

Among the problems faced by over 200,000 Yolanda survivors, the lack of decent housing remains one of the biggest challenges.

Addressing the problem, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman is urging government officials to adopt a broader perspective to the ongoing recovery efforts 6 months after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated much of eastern Visayas.

Speaking in Ormoc City on May 10, Soliman reminded local government offcials and aid organizations to look beyond Tacloban City, the regional economic hub and the city worst-hit by the strongest storm ever to make landfall.

“Everyone should keep in mind that ‘Yolanda’ affected 171 municipalities in 44 provinces,” Soliman said.

The government and non-government agencies, organized into clusters addressing different aspects of recovery work, gave updates on their respective areas during the meeting.

Permanent houses still being built

The shelter cluster reported that 359,662 households are currently housed in tents and makeshift houses made of tarpaulins.

More permanent shelters are still being built in safe zones designated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, the education, interior and public works departments have yet to build disaster resilient classrooms.

They also reported that the Australian government has donated AUS$10 million to fund the repair of damaged day care centers. Two such facilities have already reopened in Antique province

Out-of-school youth

According to Soliman, the government is also addressing the needs of out-of-school youth in Yolanda affected areas.

Education grants under its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino anti-poverty program have been extended to include youth up to 18 years old.

Soliman added that the social welfare and education departments will be starting a program that would benefit out-of-school youth not covered by the Pantawid Pamilya program, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority plans to provide livelihood skills training.

Rainy season preps

Those present in the meeting agreed that the approaching rainy season posed a threat to the hundreds of thousands of families still without sturdy housing. 

The Camp Management and Coordination Cluster reported that it has been working with the International Organization for Migration in moving 3,000 families living in Tacloban’s tent cities to relatively safer temporary shelters before the rains arrive.

Similar shelters have been built in several areas in eastern Visayas, including a 24-bunkhouse development in Cab-untog village in Ormoc City built by the public works department, which Soliman visited after the inter-cluster meeting in the same city.

People helping themselves

The 24 bunkhouses, currently occupied by 351 families, can accommodate 576 households. Ormoc Mayor Edward Codilla said that his office is still convincing other families to transfer to these temporary shelters.

Soliman noted that the families have made improvements on the bunkhouses, saying that these indicated that “they are now starting to move on with their lives.”

“They also put up small businesses such as sari-sari stores and there is even a parlor. We are helping them, but they are also helping themselves,” she added.

The next inter-cluster meeting is set on June 6 in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. – Rappler.com/Toby Roca

Toby Roca is a Rappler intern and a Journalism student at the University of the Philippines Diliman.