International Non-Government Organizations (INGO) from United Nation assembled at Trento, Agusan del Sur last December 27. These INGOs form a cluster for Shelter, Food and Education to give support the Provincial Government for the rehabilitation program of the affected municipalities of Agusan del Sur by the Typhoon Pablo.

There are five major municipalities included on the rehabilitation program, Bunawan, Trento, Sta. Josefa, Veruela.

The UN-INGOs will make a center in Trento where the relief goods will be dropped on that place and distributed to other affected municipalities.

The Shelter cluster headed by the UN-International Organization for Migration (UN-IOM) pursue on imposing an emergency shelter program for the victims, immediately. Based on IOM’s standard, the shelter should not make its occupants feel very hot in the morning and too cold at night.

Mr. Mariano P. Nava of UN-IOM presided the meeting on the shelter program with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) heads from different affected municipalities, the Chief of Staff of Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, Regional Department of Social Welfare and Development Crisis Intervention Unit Head and UNICEF representatives.

“This is not like Typhoon Sendong’s effect, it is the combination of Typhoon Ondoy and Sendong,” as Mr. Mariono described the effect of Typhoon Pablo.

Aside on the disaster made by Typhoon Pablo, the shelter program faced another problem and that is the distance between other houses.

“Unlike the Sendong, we can compress the people and relocate them easily- but not in here” he added along the discussion.

MSWD’s found it a big challenge and should be resolved with their next meeting.

Mr. Jess Far, Chief Protection Specialist from UNICEF shared his other concerns regarding on the shelter program. He emphasized that the shelter program should be implemented as soon as possible.

According to Mr. Jess, without the shelter it could be a reason to create a human trafficking because crime syndicates will use this opportunity.

“We should monitor the migration of the people of the affected municipalities especially the children who are prone to this kind of activity (human trafficking),” he added on his talk.

Human trafficking is very rampant on this kind of situation and mostly will accept even the smallest offer that a crime syndicate can offer.

All the concerns raised on the said meeting will be carried this coming January 3, 2013 meeting that will be held in Trento, Agusan del Sur.

by: Melody E. de Vera

AGUSAN DEL SUR - Four people were confirmed dead and three others injured as thousands were housed temporarily in safe shelters after typhoon Pablo (BOPHA) battered the province Tuesday morning on December.

In a report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), a total of 30,305 persons evacuated following Pablo destroyed their houses. Heavy rains and strong gust of winds resulted to trees collapsing on houses and roads and the swelling of rivers and creeks.
About 20 people coming from different barangays of Veruela, Sibagat, Rosario, Sta. Josefa and Trento were dead and 12 persons were injured.

PDRRMC report revealed the municipality of Veruela was the hardest hit as 4, 532 families comprised of 24, 238 persons in 20 barangays were heavily affected. Reports also indicate massive destruction on properties, infrastructure and agriculture. Next with the highest number of affected persons is Sta. Josefa town with 2, 578 families made up of 13, 296 individuals.
Meanwhile, cost of partially damaged houses was pegged at 11, 347 and 378 million cost of damage to crops and livestocks and reaches to P221 million costs of infrastructures damages.
At present, 147 barangays have no electricity.

On Wednesday morning, Governor Eddiebong Plaza and Vice-Governor Santiago Cane Jr. and other provincial officials personally conducted an ocular inspection in the devastated areas and lamented on the extent of damages brought about by the super typhoon.

Asked for his comment while in Veruela, the governor stressed, “napakasama nang nangyari dito. Nakakalungkot ang nakita nating lawak ng pinsala sa crops pati sa rubber and palm oil plantations galing sa Trento papunta ng Sta. Josefa at dito. Malaking problema ito at kailangan na nating humingi ng tulong sa national government upang mabigyan ng kaukulang solusyon kasi karamihan ay nawalan ng bahay at kabuhayan.”

Governor Plaza added, “this is the first time sa history ng Agusan del Sur na ganito karami ang nasirang bahay. Ilang beses na tayong binaha kaya medyo sanay na tayo pero bago sa atin ang malakas na hangin. Dapat na nating itaas ang kaalaman ng mga mamamayan sa kakaibang takbo ng panahon ngayon. Ang daming proyektong ibinuhos ang DSWD through KALAHI-CIDDS at nang LGU dito pero puro sira talaga. Kailangan matugunan ito ng kaukulang hakbang at alam ko babangon ang Veruela at ang buong Agusan del Sur.”

The local government of the affected municipalities is now providing the needs of the victims through the distribution of relief assistance like food, water and clothing. (PPIO-AgSur)

Hand in Hand for Agusan.  This is what employees of the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur wanted to emphasize as they donate their used clothes and their unselfish time to pack and to distribute the relief goods to the affected areas of Agusan del Sur started last December 8 until 9.

The five municipalities affected by the Typhoon Pablo were Rosario, Bunawan, Trento, Sta. Josefa and Veruela. And they got most of the damage than other municipalities.

They already dispatched 4,600 packs of relief goods with 404 bags of used clothing in Veruela while in Sta. Josefa has 2,600 packs and in Trento were 900 packs.

Currently, the relief goods were came from the Provincial Calamity Fund.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) encourage all the people out there to give foods or any things that could help the people build their houses and to share your blessings even in a simple way.

So, if you want to donate any amount here is the PGAS Donation Typhoon Pablo account number 0972-1237-49, Land Bank of the Philippines San Francisco Branch.

And if you want to donate foods just visit Provincial Covered Court, D.O. Plaza, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Or you may contact the following hotline:

Smart: 09478940376
Globe: 09173260290

A small amount can help millions; a piece of food can feed millions, so help our brothers and sisters who are still suffering the terror of Typhoon Pablo.

Courtesy of PPIO-AgSur

Typhoon Pablo with an international name of BOPHA destroyed five (5) municipalities of Agusan del Sur leaving 16 dead and 11 injured as of 10 p.m. of December 6.

The municipalities of Rosario, Bunawan, Trento, Sta. Josefa and Veruela received the impact of the Typhoon Pablo that destroyed the infrastructures and agricultural lands of the said municipalities.
According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), it reached 8,356 households were totally destroyed and over 6,211 were partially destroyed houses. Over 19,906,568 pesos costs of damage houses and 7,660,300 pesos costs of Agricultural lands such as rice fields, corn fields, coffee farms, lumbers and fruit lands were accounted.

Destroyed houses and trees can be seen along the highway of the municipality of Rosario. And the leaning utility poles made the people afraid to pass the Maharlika Highway.

Mr. Arean Amero, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO) of Bunawan, said that there were 6 injured reported and they had damage of 16,618,000 pesos in terms of their infrastructures and 5,580,842 pesos worth of damage on their agriculture.

The municipality of Trento had five (5) dead reported namely Elizabeth Zalueta, Cecilio Duarna, Pepito Cabusas, Jocelyn Navales and a 7-month old Baby Cabriadas. And the municipal hall of Trento was destroyed, too.  Everything, including houses and other infrastructures were damaged.
And in the town of Sta. Josefa, there were three (3) casualties namely Lilia Flores, Guillermo Cataag and Jovena Cataag. And also all the houses and agricultural land were destroyed.

According to Mang Edgardo Macias, a resident of Sta. Josefa, on 5 a.m. when the wind started to blow and at any time, they were ready to evacuate. And around 6 a.m. they went to their neighbor to evacuate. They witnessed the destruction of their house by the two fruit trees, Santol and Marang.
“Gisulti-an nami nga mag-andam, pero wala mi nagdahom nga kusog kaayo ang hangin- first time namo ni nasinati,” he added, “ngayo lang mig hinabang para makatukod mig balay.”

While in Veruela, Ms. Elvira, Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) of Veruela, over 95% of whole Veruela were destroyed by Typhoon Pablo. And some barangays were still submerged in flood. Agricultural lands and infrastructures were totally damaged.

There were seven (7) casualties viz. Emma Quibol (daughter), Lolita Quibol (mother), Willy Libotlibot, Jeffrey Sabado, Mark Lloyd Lodiveo, Junry Pingol and Beloso Eway.

The survivors of the typhoon are knocking on the hearts of those fortunate people to donate or to give assistance to them especially in building new houses.

Until now, the affected municipalities don’t have electricity. The evacuees need assistance especially on medicine, water and food.