United Church of Christ in the Philippines

South Luzon Jurisdictional Area

Northeast Southern Tagalog Conference

Updated Report on the NESTCON RELIEF OPERATIONS

General Situation:

Most affected areas by Typhoon Ondoy (International name: Ketsana)which

struck most of Southern Tagalog provinces in the island of Luzon are the low-lying
towns of the provinces of Laguna and Rizal mostly found around Laguna Lake. The
six hour rain that fell last September 26, 2009 quickly raised the lake’s water level
flooding several towns. Hundreds of residents had to evacuate for safer places to
avoid flash floods and landslides. Some are still in need of rescue and evacuation.
Hectares of agricultural lands, especially those devoted to rice and cash crops are
now submerged in flood waters.

The said areas are within the jurisdiction of the Northeast Southern Tagalog
Conference of UCCP. More than 20 local churches (out of 38) including worshipping
congregations and outreach areas found along the lakeshores are affected by the
calamity.
Local Church Situation and Help Rendered:

Rizal District

Local Church Description Help

Rendered
1 UCCP San Experienced 2nd flooding in recent Distributed
Mateo months. Flood waters reach the 65 bags of
roof of the church building. Church relief goods
properties (pews, chairs, tables,
hymns, Bibles, instruments, etc.)
are washed out. Most of its
members are affected which
includes 34 families.
2 UCCP Cainta Church building flooded with mud Distributed
settling on the 1st floor of the 120 bags of
building which is thesanctuary. relief goods
Properties are washed out,
congregation was not able to hold
worship on Sunday, number of
members affected.
3 UCCP Banaba Flooded and church properties Distributed
washed out/destroyed. 20 84 bags of
member-families are affected. relief goods
4 UCCP Portions of the church roof and Distributed
Binangonan ceilings gave way due to the heavy 97 bags of
downpour. relief goods
5 UCCP Pililia The whole town was flooded. Distributed
Homes and streets are still in 132 bags of
inches of mud carried by flood relief goods
waters coming from the nearby
mountains. Church worship
materials and instruments are
destroyed.

Laguna District 1

Help
Rendered
6 UCCP Church "Community home along the train Distributed
Among the rails" are usually affected by strong 50 bags of
Palms' Tadlac typhoons. Community built tents relief goods
Outreach on the railroad to serve as
temporary shelters.
The outreach was supported by the
local initiatives of CAP. Relief goods
and other support was given
 immediately, a possible relocation
is being arranged by the Church
Among the Palms.
7 UCCP Sucol Church building was opened for Distributed
evacuees Sunday morning. Water 60 bags of
level almost reached the level of relief goods
the church floor. Today around 60
families both church and
community members occupy the
church, parsonage and the church
run-school and library as
temporary shelter. Barangay Sucol
is still in waist-deep flood waters.
8 UCCP Calamba Church serves as main center for Distributed
relief operations where donations bags of
are received, repacked and sent to relief goods
priority areas in Rizal and Laguna
9 Cabuyao (WC) 2 members affected, water entered
their houses.
1 UCCP Lingga Very near the lakeshore line, CEC
0 residents flee to evacuation distributed
centers. Church building serves as 70 bags of
a host to around 70 families. relief goods
1 UCCP Sta Rosa Very near the shore line, pastor's Distributed
1 (Sambahan sa office was reached by flood waters. 120 bags of
Babay Dagat) Around 120 families are affected relief goods
as reported by the church.
1 UCCP Binan mud and flood waters reach church
2 building as almost the whole town
is flooded.
1 UCCP Malaban – Church building is flooded, Distributed
3 members are in evacuation areas 35 bags of
(St. Francis school) around 70 relief goods
members are effected, They were
not able to conduct worship service
because you reach the church
through boat.
1 San Pedro portions of the town are in flood
4 Evangelical waters
Church

Laguna District 2:

Local Church Description Help

Rendered
15 UCCP Mabitac Congregation was not able to Distributed
convene for worship. Flood reach bags of
waist deep in the town proper. relief goods
Church was flooded but properties
 are intact.
16 UCCP Siniloan Church building was not reached
by the rising waters, few members
were only able to gather for a
vesper service. In the morning, the
whole town was flooded. The Town
center was littered with mud and
debris. The church serves as a
relief center for Laguna 2 and
possible supports coming from NQ.
17 Famy Outreach Whole town submerged in flood Distributed
waters. bags of
We are still awaiting a detailed relief goods
report on the condition since the
town is still flooded and the town is
not easily accessible.
18 UCCP Pangil Was unreachable by road from
Siniloan because the national road
was submerged by flood. Church
building was reached by flood
water, congregation gathered in
prayer in the morning.
They gave 6 sacks of rice to the
UCCP Siniloan (center) for the
distribution to affected areas in
Laguna 2
Local church initiated a local relief
operation and extended assistance
to members affected.
19 UCCP Paete Church building was not affected, Distributed
from Saturday afternoon till early bags of
morning next day served as a relief goods
refuge center for 115 community
members fleeing from possible
flash floods and landslides. It
continues to support hundreds of
evacuees settled in school
buildings and serves as a nerve
center for NESTCON's relief efforts.
20 UCCP Sta Cruz Town market was flooded to waist
deep, church building was not
reached by flood waters. A number
of members have to move out to
safer places during the typhoon.
Congregation has began to gather
support for seriously affected
churches in the district particularly
Paete and Mabitac.
Relief Operations

The Community Ministries Committee of the Conference was tasked to assess

the typhoon situation and the effects it made on the communities and churches,
and also to coordinate efforts already being carried out by the districts through the
less-affected locals. It met September 28 afternoon, teleconferencing with NEST
Conference Minister Rev. Joel Tendero.

It set up relief centers at:

RELIEF BAG
1. Calamba Evangelical Church - Church serves as main Contains
center for relief operations where donations are Food:
received, repacked and sent to priority areas in Rizal 2 kilos rice
and Laguna 2 cans sardines
3 packs instant
noodles
2. Paete Evangelical Church – served as a refuge center ½ kilo sugar
for 115 community members fleeing from possible 25 ml instant
flash floods and landslides. It continues to support coffee
hundreds of evacuees settled in school buildings. Clothes:
One set for each
3. UCCP Siniloan Serves as a center for NESTCON's relief Member
efforts, support from NQ Churches will be delivered here.

Aside from relief goods already distributed by able churches, more than 500
bags of relief goods have been distributed in Laguna (Lingga, Sucol, Malaban,
Mabitac, Famy and Sta Rosa) and Rizal (San Mateo, Banaba, Cainta and Pililia) from
September 38 to October 1.

Committee Members:
Rev. Ric Bernadino, chairperson
Pastor Beth Tendero
Pastor Gil Sediarin
Lee Mae Driodoco
Pastor Berlin Guerrero

Melinda Guerrero, Conference staff

Lingga Memorial Church 1

Pastors visit Calamba evacuation center 1

Young Adults conducts occular inspection 1

Waist-deep waters in Lingga, Calamba 1

Mabitac Town 1

San Mateo UCCP 1

UCCP Pililia, Rizal 1

UCCP Sucol, Calamba 1

Sta Rosa, Laguna 1