Oxfam in the Philippines

People’s Survival Fund bill pushed to avert another ‘Sendong’

A window of hope: Advocates are calling for the passage of the People's Survival Fund bill, a special trust fund that local governments can access to prepare for disasters like 'Sendong' set to rise because of climate change. Photo: Keith Bacongco/Oxfam

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines –  Environmental advocates called today for the passage of the People’s Survival Fund, a special trust fund that local governments can access to help communities prepare for disasters like ‘Sendong’. Tropical storm Sendong (international name: Washi) unleashed rampaging floods that claimed more than a thousand lives and entire housing communities.

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Mangroves: the new fun run

Tree planting projects used to get a lot of press before fun runs took over. Running – to save the Pasig River or to raise cash for charity – is still great but we also need to put reforestation back in the map. Sendong (international name: Washi) showed us how floods can sweep houses to sea, no thanks to mountains of trees flattened out to give way to plantations or housing projects. We need to re-green the world to mitigate the impact of disaster.

Yet another aspect of re-greening the world involves planting mangroves,  or coastal mini-forests. Mangroves cushion the blows of storm surges and even tsunamis. It’s also a great place for women to glean shells to feed their families or to sell at markets. For many poor seaside communities a mangrove protects them from inclement weather and offers them a steady source of food and income. Sadly, mangroves are becoming less and less ubiquitous. Here’s a video from WWF on why that’s happening:

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What malong, iconic Muslim fabric, means to ‘Sendong’ evacuees

A woman unfurls a malong, a multi-functional Muslim garment now being distributed by Oxfam and the Humanitarian Response Consortium to families displaced by storm Sendong. Photo: Keith Bacongco/Oxfam

Text: Keith Bacongco

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What a ‘Sendong’ survivor’s Media Noche is like

Cagayan de Oro City – She is Antonia Lacubtan, 46, firewood vendor, mother of one, and wife of construction worker Leonie.

Photo: Jessan Catre/Oxfam

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Why health matters in ‘Sendong’ shelters

Text: Rodilyn Bolo

Photos: Keith Bacongco and Ruby Bacongco

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines – Many of the families who lost their homes to storm Sendong (international name: Washi) have since stayed in cramped evacuation centers, their personal space often defined by the size of the sleeping mat they own.

Photo: Keith Bacongco/Oxfam

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Philippines floods: the lost Christmas

Photo: Ralph Jacinto Quiblat/Oxfam

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‘Sendong’: a disaster that was waiting to happen

Evacuees fill an entire public gymnasium in Macasandig Village in Cagayan de Oro City after Typhoon Sendong displaced more than 26,000 families and left close to 1,000 dead. With no running water and adequate bathrooms, evacuation centers are a breeding ground for diseases. Photo: Glenn Maboloc/Oxfam

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines – Living on the edge of riverbanks, families displaced by Sendong (international name: Washi) a few days ago had once fled their homes in 2009 at the height of a storm. With no alternative relocation then, they had gone right back, holding on to their proximity to the city and the assurance of livelihood.

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Exhibit on women farmers and fishers to open in Manila

Saganang Amin: Portraits of Women Food Producers pays tribute to Filipina farmers and fishers who brave sun and rain, low pay and back-breaking work, to bring food to our table and help buoy up the economy. The exhibit, featuring the work of award-winning photojournalist Veejay Villafranca, will have a special run at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, in Pasay City, from 21 to 22 November in celebration of Climate Consciousness Week. See you there, guys!

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