PDI Food Assistance for Typhoon Sendong Victims

Left photo shows PDIs Gina de Fiesta (standing) with Higaonon parateachers. Right photos show cavans of rice for distribution.

The Project Development Institute (PDI) gave food assistance to the Higaonon families of PDIs Alternative Education Program who were victims of typhoon Sendong in Iligan City. The food assistance served as a way to encourage the Higaonon learners to attend the classes because the learners were given one kilo of rice for every session attended. The impact was two pronged: 1) it encouraged the learners to attend the NFE classes and provided their families with food on the aftermath of Sendong; 2) the NFE classes attended became a venue to release stresses, serving as a psycho-social remedy from their traumatic experience with Sendong. Food Assistance Distribution Place
Sinicabog, Rogongon Malandog, Rogongon Kasayanan, Rogongon Baclag, Rogongon Poblacion, Mainit Rebucon, Mainit Pudog, Mainit Kapisahan, Mainit Tagpaco, Initao Total

Para-teacher
Marlon Linsangan Jodelyn Onotan Jovel Sangco-an Teresita Maruhom Merlita Paglicawan Nelean Palae Marilou Dagumbis Maricel Tumatao Bae Joy Mutia Lundahay

Number of families
26 33 28 19 35 29 40 33 75 318

To recall: Severe Tropical Storm Sendong was a late-season tropical cyclone that caused catastrophic damage to Mindanao. Sendong made landfall over Mindanao in the early hours of December 16, and swept down mountainsides while residents of riverside and coastal villages were sleeping. Flash floods and landslides swept houses into rivers and out to sea. Entire villages were washed away leaving a trail of flattened homes, broken bridges and upended vehicles. The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were the worst hit. The following is the account of Lito Morano, PDI community organizer in Northern Mindanao living in Iligan City:
Typhoon Sendong brought strong winds and heavy rains, and there was a whirlwind on the mountains of Gabunan, Tagulan and Man-ay. There were numerous landslides which carried down trees and boulders of rocks and stones. The landslides occurred because big trees have all been taken away by loggers, and the mountains were full of holes because of the mining operations and illegal loggings by capitalists, businessmen and powerful people in the area. There were continuous heavy rains all throughout the day which caused the canals and rivers to overflow in Iligan City. There was a brownout on December 16, from 9:00 am to 12 noon. People panicked. On December 17, 2011, at 2:00 am, the river overflowed and the water was 15 feet high in the streets and houses. Many people were trapped in their houses and died. Others were hit by big logs carried by strong water currents. There were people who tried to cross the very strong currents of muddy water who died. Many houses, vehicles and other properties were destroyed. In the early morning of December 17, the view of Iligan City was totally changed. Before, neighboring streets could not be seen because of the houses. But this time, you could see all the way to sea. The barangays affected were: Barinaot, Hinaplanon, Tambo, Bayog Island, Santiago, Santa Filomena, Cabaro, Sn Roque, Mandulog, Pugaan, Taparak, Dulag, Kalilangan, Panoroganan, Rogongon, Bunbonon, Lambagohon, Digkilaan, Ubaldo Laya, Luinab, Del Carmen, Ibanga, Tambakan, Tubod, Tuminobo, Dalamas, Bagong Silang (27).

Typhoon Sendong was the strongest storm to hit Mindanao since 1980, according to the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Mario Montejo. The disaster agency reported that more than 338,000 people were affected by the disaster in 13 provinces of Western and Central Visayas, Western and Northern Mindanao, Compostela Valley, Caraga Region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARRM). Nearly 45,000 took shelter in evacuation centers. The death toll has reached 3,000 with over a thousand missing. Written by Ramon T. Ayco, Sr; edited by Ely M. Santos