“Typhoon Yolanda is an opportunity to build back better and to do things right.” Pauline Nayra, Regional Director of the Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (EVNet), is hopeful about the future of her home region.
She believes that there is no better time for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) to step up than now. Representing EVNet and calling on other members of civil society, she underlines the critical partnership that must be formed between them and the government.
What a Disaster!
When super typhoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas on November 8, 2013, the whole world stood watch. In what was recorded as a category 5 tropical cyclone, lives were lost and livelihood was devastated. Partial official tallies record 5,260 deaths. Homes, offices, establishments and land were wiped out by the strong waters.
Driven by compassion upon seeing the images and hearing the heart-wrenching stories surrounding the calamity, aid poured in. The international community pledged donations and sent disaster management resources. Civil society mobilized rag-tag teams in a frenzied attempt to help victims of this unprecedented calamity. Local governments were so decimated they were rendered incapable of performing meaningful rescue and relief operations. The national government had to assume responsibility at ground level though it was centrally structured and highly bureaucratic.
Vulnerabilities Exposed
While Yolanda provided Tacloban and its neighbors attention, sympathy and funding, it exposed a number of vulnerabilities. The calamity highlighted challenges in organization and politics.
Eastern Visayas is the second poorest region of the Philippines. And so, the disaster was truly a big blow compounding their problems. Quoting the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), “Poverty is a complex problem that needs a comprehensive, multi-pronged, multi-sectoral solution involving many stakeholders.” NEDA zones in on the extra burden a disaster creates. “These occurrences have the power to negate gains in economic growth and development… Disasters like these have profound effects on the local economies and recovery usually takes an even longer time. These also signal the need for an urgent and deliberate focus on disaster risk reduction and mitigation for these areas, coupled with social insurance protection and income diversification.”
“Before Yolanda, we did not even discuss disaster risk reduction (DRR). It was not a priority,” Nayra admits. Despite how prone region 8 is to disaster considering its topography, the lack of both resources and awareness left its residents ignorant to protection measures. But there is nothing like being in the face of disaster to realize how important preparation is.
So now both the local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) are exerting efforts. EVNet recently had about 10 members participate in DRR training programs conducted by the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) as well as by international humanitarian organizations. Nayra adds, “We have to get involved. And we have to mainstream DRR management. We are learning so that we will be able to facilitate the membership and involvement for community-based DRR.”
Steps to Recovery and Rebuilding
For Eastern Visayas to get back on its feet is no easy feat.
The community is now into needs assessment and master planning through the program headed by Secretary Panfilo Lacson of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR). There are also several independent initiatives on relocation and housing, education, anti-abuse and trafficking, health and sanitation, livelihood, etc.
Nayra sees an opportunity to collaborate. She believes that the support given so far is not enough, that leaders must look deeper into true rehabilitation now that immediate recovery is done. She says that civil society is instrumental to get a real picture of the community’s needs and priorities. “When CSOs are involved, they can talk about the specifics and not just the general. Structure alone is not shelter. There are other components to be looked at such as food, livelihood, health, education, water and safety aside from infrastructure.”
In her opinion, it is civil society’s role to advocate for the victims on the ground, to identify the appropriate approaches and to partner with LGU in the implementation. According to her, their biggest concern in EVNet now is sustainability. They are focusing on building a shared agenda among CSO networks to consolidate and strengthen efforts. “When we get to share successes and issues, that’s the beauty of networking,” she asserts.
Nayra is most willing to cooperate. “There are positive stories of pro-active LGUs, those who are open to participation.” It is a complex situation that requires consolidation of efforts. It will undoubtedly take time and needs enough resources. But hope resides in the willingness to work together.
Rachelle San Pedro is one of the many Filipinos who hope and pray for Eastern Visayas to get back on its feet and for its people to be able to rebuild their lives. If there is anything she takes with her, it is the inspiration from the smiles, resilience and positive attitude of the survivors.