We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who helped us raise funds and materials for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.
Relief and rehabilitation projects conducted by the LINGKOD KATRIBU (Serve Indigenous Peoples) reach far-flung areas devastated by the super typhoon where practically no government assistance is felt to give immediate and effective response to the needs of typhoon victims and survivors. Lingkod Katribu focused its relief and rehabilitation in the indigenous communities in Panay, Mindoro and Palawan who were not reached by government or other groups’ support.
The poor socio-economic conditions of the indigenous peoples made these communities most vulnerable, and the impact of a typhoon like Haiyan puts them in the most difficult situation. Aside from their houses, the indigenous peoples’ crops and farms were also devastated. Productive trees that take years to grow were either uprooted, or destroyed by floods.
Majority of affected IPs in the islands of Panay, Mindoro and Palawan are farmers and fishermen. Fishermen were unable to work due to their damaged boats and fishing gears. Several farmers were not able to harvest their crops. Food, clean drinking water and income have also been inadequate in some areas.
According to one of the community residents, it is the livelihood, crops (mainly banana trees) of the Mangyan which have been greatly affected and it would take us 3 years to be able to regain our crops/livelihood. Efforts should also be focused on the rehabilitation of some LITNUM Schools (Alternative Literacy and Numeracy Schools of Mangyan) for the children to continue their schooling.
Data collated from the tri-media, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the DNCA conducted by the STPRC, different Peoples’ Organization (POs) and Disaster Preparedness Committees (DPC) revealed an estimate of 47, 473 families were affected in Palawan and 34, 752 families in both provinces of Mindoro. Of these, there are about 13,000 families are indigenous peoples.
LINGKOD KATRIBU and its network organizations including those in the Cordillera and Land is Life, strived to solicit support both from the national and international community. In partnership with various organizations and networks both at the local, national and international, we were able to raise funds to give immediate reliefs to the indigenous peoples affected by Typhoon Haiyan. These collective efforts continued so we were also able to extend support for the rehabilitation of the affected communities and even to non-indigenous areas.
Discussions were facilitated during relief operations and before the rehabilitation to explain on the relief operations and give inputs on disaster preparedness and community-based disaster management. Volunteers were mobilized and organized to help out from the packing of relief goods until its distribution to the affected communities and in the awareness raising and organizing of the communities as well.
Through these efforts, some communities have already harvested the crops they have planted in December 2013. However, a lot of rehabilitation, especially on agriculture and their livelihood need to be collectively done. Because of the support from various organizations, networks, institutions and IP advocates from the local and international, most of the indigenous communities affected by the typhoon are now regaining their strength and are continuing to rebuild their communities. Their own collective actions as indigenous peoples also contributed greatly to their survival.
Below is the summary-report on the relief and rehabilitation operations conducted by LINGKOD KATRIBU and its networks/partners from November 2013 to May 2014. These was made possible with the big support from Levis Strauss Foundation, LUSH, CCFD Terre Solidaire, Land is Life, and other individuals and advocates for indigenous peoples rights.
1. Mindoro Island
A total of 309 families were able to receive relief packs.
A total of 40 shovels and 40 bags of rice seeds were also distributed to the 17 affected IP communities for the rehabilitation of their livelihood.
2. Palawan Island
A total of 200 families received relief packs.
3. Panay Island
A total of 300 households from 17 communities benefited from the shelter relief operations.
A total of 280 households in from 14 IP communities in Capiz and Iloilo received cash-support under the food-for-work component. The amount of Php450.00 per beneficiary for a day’s work for 4 days will be used to buy the household’s food needs while their houses were being repaired or while the households are preparing their land for production.
A total of 72 households were able to receive seeds for their livelihood.
The indigenous communities also participated in dialogues and several protest actions to present their demands to the local and national government as well as to some government agencies.
Summary of activities organized by our networks on the campaign:
1. Local and National
In Baguio City and Ilocos, our local youth organizations and networks spearheaded by the Cordillera Youth Center and Kabataan Partylist – Cordillera and Ilocos chapters through the TULONG KABATAAN (Outreach program of the youth through the Kabataan Party list and its youth networks in the Philippines), mobilized the various youth and students organizations in Baguio City and Ilocos to gather financial and material support for the Yolanda/Haiyan victims and survivors since November 2013. The materials and funds collected were coursed through the Serve the People Brigade (STPB), the disaster and relief operation establizhed in 2009 during the typhoon Pepeng that hit the Cordillera and Ilocos region. This is currently managed by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services (CorDis-RDS).
Youth organizations involved in this initiatives include: ANAKBAYAN-Cordillera, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Dap-ayan ti Kultura ti Kordilyera (DKK) and the Alliance of Concerned Students – UP Baguio.
Support were received from the students and faculty of the Saint Louis University, University of the Philippines Baguio, Mabini Elementary School and from the series of activities conducted by our allied artists from the Baguio Art Community.
Members and networks of KAMP based in the communities were mobilized to directly facilitate the relief and rehabilitation and also help in the raising of funds. Among the major sub-national partners are the Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center (STPRC), the Panay Center for Disaster Response (PCDR) and indigenous peoples’ organizations TUMANDUK, HAGIBBAT and BALATIK.
2. International
APIYN members such as the Jharkhand Indigenous Youth for Action, IP organizations in Manipur and the Nepal Students Association immediately responded after we circulated the call for support. In South Korea, APIYN’s former Secretary-General spearheaded a fund raising drive in their university. These efforts were initiated by APIYN’s Council of Leaders and Advisory Council.
Our solidarity partner Land is Life was able to raise funds through the rally.org and all funds raised from this were directly coursed through our local partner organizations such as the Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS) who are directly facilitating the relief and rehabilitation in the areas affected by the typhoon.
No words can convey our gratitude to those (organizations, institutions and individuals) who gave their support whether in cash, materials or prayers for this campaign.
From the “Support to Yolanda victims and survivors” organizing committee, our deepest gratitude:
Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN)
Land is Life
Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
Kalipunan ng Mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP)
Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA)
Cordillera Youth Center (CYC)
LINGKOD KATRIBU and BALSA (Cooperation for the People)
Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS)
Report prepared by:
KAMP – Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (National Alliance of Indigenous Peoples Organizations in the Philippines) and the
Secretariat of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN)
