AC, ICA-J, Japan Platform Typhoon Relief Project V

Typhoon Haiyan Relief Operation in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro

The Institute of Cultural Affairs –Japan (ICA) Directors, Mrs. Shizuyo Sato and Mr. Wayne Ellsworth, together with Aldersgate College team headed by Dr. Junifen F. Gauuan, Bernadette C. Blanche, Eliezer Nasino, Marlou Felix S. Cunanan III, Rodel B. Balallo, Diosdado A. Lacangan and Jerry Sampaga, went to Oriental and Occidental Mindoro to conduct relief operations to the victims of typhoon Haiyan (from December 28, 2013 to January 28, 2014).

January 1, 2014

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January 8-9, 2014 Relief Operation in Magsaysay Mindoro Occidental covering Sitios Calachuchi in Barangay Bamban,Cabag in Poblacion, Bulo in Barangay Alibog, Kasuyan and Bukal  in Barangay. San Nicholas and Barangay Poblacion Magsaysay:

Number of Recipients: 424

The 8^th day of January, 2014 was purely office work for the ICA Japan and Aldersgate College team. While Mr. Nasino go with Rev. Yasay in delivering the 424 relief package to Magsaysay UMC.

On the 9^th day of January, 2014 marked the departure of Madam Shizuyo Sato and Sir Wayne Ellsworth in Roxas, Mindoro Oriental. Together with the team they went to Mindoro Occidental particularly in Magsaysay where the 424 relief recipients converged in the UMC compound. The distribution began at 10:20 a.m. and last till 2:30 p.m. The recipients are coming from the mountain sitios of Calachuchi, Cabag, Bulo, Alibog, Bukal and Poblacion in Magsaysay.

Majority of the sitios are situated in Mountainous area either in the hinterland like Calachuchi and along the river banks of San Nicholas river at the foot of San Nicholas mountain ranges that are covered by residual forest and thinning vegetation on the southeastern part of Occidental Mindoro except for those who are living in the Poblacion which is in the vicinity of Magsaysay. Majority of the I.P.’s solely depend upon the production of cassava, sweet potato and corn for their subsistence. Banana and other vegetable crops such as eggplant, tomato and string beans are their extra source of income that were sold to the Magsaysay market and the earnings were used to buy  school supplies and other family needs. Still it does not suffice their daily needs to fully support the family.

The distribution was led by Madam Shizuyo Sato and Sir Wayne Ellsworth, Directors of ICA Japan together with Pres. Junifen Gauuan of the Aldersgate College of Solano Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. Madam Sato stressed in her message to the people that disaster unite the people of the world like when tsunami struck Japan the Philippine government extend help to Japanese people affected by tsunami likewise the Japan ICA extends help now to the Filipino people victims of typhoon Haiyan. She said that the Mangyan tibes must also unite and cooperate with each other’s in order to reconstruct what has been destroyed by typhoon Haiyan such as their houses, plant crops and their physical environment. The people were jubilant in accepting the challenge.

January 9, 2014- Municipality of Magsaysay Mindoro Occidental- Barangay. Alibug Sitio Calachuchi and Barangay. San Nicolas Sitio Bukal, Sitio Casuyan, Sitio Bulo and Sitio Poblacion Magsaysay

Number of Recipients: 424

The Relief team continue the operation in the municipality of Magsaysay in Mindoro Occidental. The area of responsibility is 119 km. away from the Municipality of Roxas in Mindoro Oriental. The topography of the town proper is a flat lowland surrounded in the northeastern to southeastern with mountain ranges and its south western portion is an open sea. The mountain ranges that is around 300 to 450 meters above sea level is covered with second and residual forest with remnants of hardwood  forest trees such as Langil, Tangile, Palosapis, Narra,(Pterocarpus indicus) teak tree (Tectona grandis) and some soft wood trees such as earwig, Alibangbang (Peliostigma malabaricum ). The second growth forest as seen from a distance is covered with bamboo (Bambusa blumeana) Giant Ipil-Ipil (Leucaena leucocephela), American candle stick or Madre de cacao (Gliricidia sepium) Coconut (Cocus nucifera) that serves as their protection forest. Noticeably are the multistory cropping system found along the way of the mountain community going down the valley , a mango orchard intercropped with coconut and banana as understory crops.

In the lowland, onion (Allium cepa) Pinoy red variety abound the field going to the town proper. Buri palm (Corypha utan/ elata) are plenty, a good source of house construction materials. Its leaves is a very sturdy wall for hut construction. It is also used in weaving basket, bag, bed mat, purse and slippers.

The physical environmental description of Sitio Calachuchi could be found in the day 1 report including the photo story. This 9^th day of January, 2014,  they came  down from the mountain sitio to receive their relief bags from the ICA and Aldersgate directors and president respectively, Mrs. Shizuyo Sato, Mr. Waume Ellsworth and President Dr. Junifen Gauuan of Aldersgate College in Solano Nueva Vizcaya.

As it has been said by Mrs Sato, people of the world were made to meet its others, help and cooperated with its others during the time of calamities like tsunami in Japan where the Philippine government extend relief assistance to Japanese people victims of tsunami and now their turn to help the Filipino people victims of typhoon Haiyan. She gave an emphasis upon people’s mindset that must be focused in the protection of his physical environment and the family, the community as well. Love, cooperation and strong faith in God is the final message that she emphasize for the people of the world to cherish.

The Sitio Bulo, Bukal, and Casuyan is dominated by mangyan I.P.’s the Hanunuo tribe while Tagalog and Visayan dominate the Magsaysay sitio Cabag Poblacion. They were hauled by a dump-truck and brought to the UMC compound in Magsaysay where they receive their relief goods.

The group is led by its leaders Mr. Anselmo Palomo of Calachuchi and Mr. Edgar Reloks and Mrs Rowena Saulong of sitio Casuyan.

These people thrive in the production of cassava and sweet potato as their staple food. They also produce vegetables such as string beans (Vigna ungiculada), eggplant (Solanum melongena),Horse raddish or malunggay ( Moringga oleifera)  root crops such as cassava (Manihut esculenta) Dashin gabi (Coloccasia esculenta), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and cereal crops such as corn (Zea maiz) their staple food also,  pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan).

They sell their farm produce in either Sn Jose or Magsaysay public market.

The average number of children among manyan is 6 while the highest number of children is 12. Most of the young adults and adult mangyans are non-literate hence the need for an adult education program. Though they are able to send their children in school, still they found it difficult to support ther needs such as: school uniform, school supplies, footwear, and daily allowance.

Most common ailment that afflicts them is influenza. They resort to quack doctors in cases of severe unknown ailment since they do not have money to pay for hospitalization.

January 10 and 11, 2014 RELIEF OPERATION FOR TYPHOON HAIYAN IN MANSALAY TOWN, BARANGAY. PANAYTAYAN- Sitios: Bait, Banhawon, Quiringin, Maayad, Pinantaw, Mahilig, Eter, Abakahan, Salay, Canumay, Parukpok, Hawili and Gaang:

Number of recipient: 513

Barangay Panaytayan in the municipality of Mansalay is composed of 54 sitios. The recipients of this year’s victims of typhoon Haiyan is 513 coming from 15 sitios out of the 54 sitios of Panaytayan.

Barangay Panaytayan is a mountain Mangyan village of the Hanunuo tribe. It is situated in the hinterland of Mansalay at an altitude of over 450 meters above sea level in the southeastern and extends southwestern portion of Mansalay Mindoro Oriental.  Barangay Panaytayan is divided on its center with Mt. Panaytayan. Majority of the sitios are located along the Panaytayan river system. 

The bio-physical features  of Mt. Panaytayan and all its 54 sitio is considered poor since it has denuded mountains, silted river systems, soil surface runoff, landslide and  river bank erosion brought about by the cascading flood waters of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).Houses were destroyed by strong wind and goats died of extreme cold temperature. Vegetable crops, banana and coconuts and bamboos were squeezed and torn down by Haiyan’s strong wind at over 200 km per hour.

Its rugged terrain gives an impression of being heavily habitated by encroaching human activities. Kaingin or charcoal making is very rampant.  It has residual forest cover, remnants of slash and burn upland cultural practices. Their production forest is planted to multistory cropping system. It is planted to coconuts intercropped with banana, mango and the understory crops are taro roots, cassava, ginger and sweet potato. Cassava and taro roots are their staple food. They depend upon root crops and vegetable production as their primary source of income. They produce eggplant (Solanum melongena), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), green peas (Kardis) (Cajanus cajan) pawpaw (Carica Papaya)-

Their protection forest is planted to bamboo, (Bambusa blumeana), Talisay – Umbrella tree-(Terminalia catappa) and also coconut trees and some patches of Alibangbang (Peliostigma malabaricum,)Kalyos (Streblus asper), narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Gmelina arborea – paper tree , Mahogany (Sweitenia macrophylla, Teak tree (Tectona grandis). The ground cover are giant reeds-talahib (Saccharum spontanium), cogon grass (Imperata cylindrical), and Illusin indica.

Some identified medicinal plant crops or herbal tree medicine are: Rain tree –acacia (Samanea saman) the concoction of its leaves and bark is good for the control of Loose Vowel Movement accompanied with vomiting, Lagundi  a tree shrub, leaf concoction is a very good for the control of influenza, H-fever cough and colds. Tanglad or lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) its concoction is very good tonic drink for muscle conditioning, it is both diuretic and diaphoretic drink, also good for aromatic bath. The horse raddish – Malunggay (Moringga olifeira) the so called tree of life has many medicinal properties. Tea from  dried malunggay leaves is a very good anti-oxidant, good in reducing fatty acid and the concoction of fresh leaves could also lower blood cholesterol and is proven slimming and weight reducing tonic drink. Katuray (Sesbania grandiflora) blanch inflorescence is a good control for high blood pressure. The wild vine Micana cordata poultice preparation has anti-inflammatory and blood coagulant properties good for curing open cut wound, and many more herbal plants that remains to be explored.

The Mangyan women married at an early age of 12 to 14 on equal level to men. Their average number of children is 6, and 12 to 14 is the highest number of children recorded in Barangay Panaytayan.

Some of their children are enrolled in the primary and elementary grades. Some have undergone high school and college level. Their main problem in life is inadequate food, poor nutrition hence the short in height due to poor nutrition. They sought alternative feeding program for their children. The Local Government is handicapped to attend this urgent needs of the highland I.P.’s

On hygiene and sanitation, very few houses have toilet. They throw their night soil in the forest or river banks, they seldom take a bath. A deworming program for children must be effected immediately.

The Barangay Panaytayan with its 54 sitio is needing an immediate community physical environment, health-hygiene and sanitation, cultural development intervention right after the devastation of typhoon Haiyan.

January 13, 2014 Relief Operation in Barangay San Juan, Dakutan,Bangkal,Balatasan, Tuklong,  Town of Bulalacao Oriental Mindoro (AM)

Number of Recipients: 178

The 2014 Relief Operation Team for the Victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) led by the President Dr. Junifen  F. Gauuan of Aldersgate College in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines proceed  to San Juan, Bulalacao for the distribution of relief goods in the early morning of  January 13, 2014.

Before the formal distribution, the following personalities render their brief message of gratitude to the donors of the relief goods before the recipients. They are the following: Mr. Iding Bawi- Barangay Councilor,the UMC Pastor Rev. Hermie Allera, Mr. Amet S Gabriel the Mangyan HAGGIBAT  Sect. General of Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Barangay Captain Tomas Santillan, and Maki Tsukomoto with Miss Bernadeth Blanche as her interpreter. Father Allie Minorca do the opening prayer. Dr. Junifen Gauuan deliver his message setting the mindset of each recipient to reckon the disaster event as an opportunity to move on, and be thankful to God that they were spared from the wrath of typhoon Haiyan. The above mentioned local leaders were the one who identified the deserving poor recipients of the relief goods.

Miss Maki Tsukomoto reminds the people to work together, unite and cooperate in order for them to move on and face the challenge of their future. She expressed a heartfelt gratitude to the people that accepted them in the community.

Barangay San Juan with its adjoining sitios are situated along the foot of the rugged mountain. The biophysical environment is similar with the rest of Oriental Mindoro town and Barangays. The I.P.’s solely depend upon their production of root crops such as gabi, cassava, peanut as the means of their subsistence. Banana, coconut and other cereal crops served as an extra source of income for the family to support the education of their children, medicine, clothes, and foods were their immediate demand for they are not being attended too by the local government. They are also engaged in charcoal making.

Barangay San Juan is a peaceful I.P. community. Green vegetation covers the barangay, like coconuts, banana and bamboo dominates the arboreal landscape. From a distance, the beautiful mounds of earth that looks like a chocolate hills in the southern Philippines that engulf the Barangay San Juan in Oriental Mindoro could be seen however it is denuded due to rampant cutting of small trees and the slash and burn practices among the I.P.’s. Their river system is dried, shallow and silted due to the onslaught of typhoon Haiyan. No government aid has ever reach their place hence their thankfulness to the people of Japan and Aldersgate College for remembering them during that time of disaster.

January 13, 2014- Relief Operation for Victims of Typhoon Haiyan in Barangay Del Mundo, Mansalay Oriental Mindoro (PM)

Number of Recipients: 226

Barangay Del Mundo is located along the national highway in the town of Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental. It is a progressive baranggay that was devasted by typhoon Haiyan. Their plant crops were squeezed by the strong wind and some of their houses roofs were blown away when some of their animals as such goats and chicken died due to cold temperature during the onslaught of typhoon Haiyan.

The baranggay features green environment manifested by the varied fruit trees ornamentals and flowering plants planted in respective lots. Mango,-of Manila and Indian var. (mangifera indica), coconuts (cocos nucifera), Jackfruit (Arthocarpus heterophyllus), Rimas or antipolo (Arthocarpus altilis), Star apple or caimito (Chryssophyllum cainito), Pomelo (Citrus grandis), Calamansi (Citrus medurensis) Malunggay or horse raddish (Moringga oleifera) dominate the arboreal plant crops, while yellow bell (Allamanda cathartica) and Allamanda violessa, and gumamela (Hibiscus rosasinensis),vougainvilla spectabilis dominate the landscape flowering plants. There are also some ornamental plants such as Fortune plants (Dracaina fragrans), Florida beuty or spotted dracaena or money tree (Dracaina godseffiona), san Francisco (Coedium varigatum pictum and croton). This baranggay features reflects the proples love for beauty and fresh environment.

The distribution began after President Gauuan of Aldersgate College, Miss Tsukomoto of ICA Japan deliver their message of sympathy and encouragement to the people to move on despite the disaster that they’ve been through. After the invocation of Rev. Ladrera, the relief offerings started. There were 226 recipients who went home with a smile on their faces.

January 14, 2014 Relief Operation for Victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Barangay. San Vicente Sitio Tagascan and Barangay. Banban Ditio Ilihan, Roxas Mindoro Oriental Philippines

Recipients:          Sitio Tagascan—–200
Sitio Ilihan———255

Sitio Tagascan is 7.5 km. away from Roxas town proper.The community has proper zoning of modestly built houses made out of bamboo and cogon grass. They have mini market with concrete structure where sitio folks sell their farm produce every Friday of the month.

The lowland people from the neighboring mountain barangay and sitios went there to purchase farm products in bulk such as cassava, banana, taro roots,  corn, copra, pigeon pea, young coconuts, sugar palm fruits, charcoal, beads necklace,buri bags and mats, biya fish, eel and rice cakes.

Tagascan has varied populace, the Mangyan Hanunuo tribe, Visayan, Ilocano and Tagalog. Majority of sitio folks are literate. They have DepEd elementary school, a church, a playground and a basketball court. This was built by the local government for the people victims of civil unrest. They knew how to read and write since the time when they were resettled in that sitio after the whole mountain of San Vicente was neutralized by the government forces to flash-out rebels during the term of the late president Cory Aquino. There is an on-going moratorium that only selected good NGO’s are allowed to enter the sitio since the people have sad experience enent NGO exploitation hence councilor Roger Sison of Barangay Sn Vicente living in Tagascan accompanied the team during the distribution. He spoke before the community people who were jubilant upon seeing the team and learnt more about ICA Japan, Japan Platform and the Aldersgate College mission of bringing goodwill to those areas in Mindoro Occidental and Oriental with people who were that were devastated by typhoon Haiyan(Yolanda).

Sitio Tagascan is 3.5 km away from the Barangay proper situated along the mountain highway of Sn Vicente which is  considered fruit basket of Roxas with its vast plantation of Lansones (Lanson domesticum), Rambutan (Nephellium lapacium),banana (Musa paradisiaca sapientum), jackfruit (Arthucarpus heterophyllus) and soursap guyabano (Anona muricata). Sitio Tagascan is navigable only by heavy dump trucks and motor bike. Inundungan river is zigzag and rugged with its big boulders of stone and deep portions scattered along both sides of its river banks and only a small pathways done by people for dump trucks and motor bike ways  are slightly cleared, hence the difficulty in transporting goods and services to and from  the area of responsibility. Tagascan village is situated between mountain ranges with second growth, residual to balding mountain forest. The production forest is planted to coconut, sugar palm, banana, and citrus fruits with understory vegetables and rootcrops. The protection forest is planted to patches of paper tree (Gmelina arborea) mahogany (Sweitenia macrophylla), giant ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephaella) with some remnants of forest soft wood and hardwood like apitong, tangile and narra. Vegetation is still rich where biodiversity flora and fauna still exist indicative of the presence of yellow oreol birds, pink and red maya .The people practices upland farming technology not suited to mountainous region. The end result is river siltation, land slide, soil surface erosion and soil surface run-off hence the need for the introduction of Agroforestry education technology particularly SALT.The average number of children is 4 for more than 200 families of mixed minority and majority group.The most common type of ailment is diarrhea, influenza, birth rate is high indicative of the many pregnant and  lactating mothers, and the many toddlers and young children around the plaza during the distribution of relief goods.

In Barangay. Bonbon Sitio Ilihan, the distribution of relief goods was being made faster and easier in the sitio basketball court. The team has arrived after a short 4km ride from Roxas town proper. There are 255 recipient in this Barangay Banban and Sitio Ilihan. The team was met by its sitio leader Mrs. Linda Galario and Barangay councilor Mr.Nehemias Gagion, they furnished the list of relief recipient names to the team leader pastor Gleofe. The distribution began after the short message done by Miss Motoko Imagi. She stressed the mindset for the people to move on, cooperate with its others, and love its others during the time of calamities. That she and Maki are happy to meet them, likewise the Japanese people were also happy when the Philippine government also helped the Japanese people during the time when tsunami and earthquake struck several prefectures in Japan.Mr. Eli Nasino served as the interpreter. The people were equally happy upon hearing the message of Miss Imagi.

Unlike the physical environment in Tagascan which is rich in tropical vegetation, Barangay Banban and sitio Ilihan has a very warm climate due to denuded mountain covered with only cogon and talahib grasses and reeds surrounding the valley with visible patches of landslide very visible from a far distance. Their wide river bed is dead (dried) without any protection trees nor bamboos growing along its banks. In the Barangay proper there are some fruit trees planted like rambutan, lansones, guyabano, and coconut.

The barangay population is more than 2,000 families while only 25 families resides in sitio Ilihan. The populace came from majority group, the Visayan, Tagalog, and Ilocano. Their primary source of income is root crops production (cassava and sweet potato and ginger-zingiber oficinale). They sell their labor to rich ranchers and landowners around the barangay. It is their extra source of income that helped them send their children in school. They said that life in that drought stricken place is really difficult but much harder during the rainy season when the river swell and their barangay gets flooded especially that they do not have bridge going to the town proper to sell their farm commodities.

The main problem of the people in this district is land ownership since majority of land even in the mountain site is owned by rich politicians and barangay officials just like in sitio Tagascan which has similar landownership problem.

Ilihan and Banban population are literate since they only migrate in this province in search for greener pasture but since they do not have direct family contact they end up living in the out-countryside area dominated by rich landlords and capitalists. Their hardship does not hamper their ambition to send their children in school for majority of them are educated and very few were non literate.

January 15, 2014 – Report Update on Typhoon Haiyan Relief Operation Center in Roxas, Mindoro Oriental

Activity:   January 15 (Wed.) 2014….. Repacking activity in the UMC warehouse ICA staff do their office works.

January 16, 2014- Delivery of 440 relief bags via the 6×6 dump truck to UMC warehouse in Sn Jose, Occidental Mindoro with the following delivery team members: E. Nasino, D.S.W. Yasay, Rev.Arellera, Rev. Glofie,Rev. Nelson dela Cruz.

The 330 relief bags was kept in the UMC warehouse. The 110 relief bags was kept  in the UMC District Parsonage near the port area for easier reloading in the boat that will bring it in Iling Island.

January 17, 2014- Simultaneous distribution of Relief Goods for Victims of Typhoon Haiyan In Bongabong Oriental and in the ISLAND BARANGAY. OF INASACAN ILIN ISLAND SN. JOSE MINDORO OCCIDENTAL.

 Number of Recipients: 110

Barangay. Inasacan in Ilin island of Mindoro Occidental is 2 hr. boat ride from the port of Sn Jose. This is where the ICA Japan Team led by Miss Maki Tsukamoto, with DS Yasay, Rev. Arellera his wife Rev Mean Arellera, Mr. Diosdado Lacangan the Gen Services Director of Aldersgate College in Solano Nueva Vizcaya and Mr. Nasino delivered the 110 bags of Relief goods. Hon.Eduardo Venturina delivered his message before his people and the visitors with full of gratitude and thankfulness to Mrs. Sato of ICA Japan, Dr. Junifen Gauuan of Aldersgate College of Solano Nueva Vizcaya and the Japan PLATFORM for the very touching gestures extended by this NGO’s to his community.

They were met in the port area by Inusacan Barangay Captain Hon.Eduardo Venturina and Councillor Rosalinda de los Reyes.The distribution of relief goods began after the short message of Miss Tsukamoto focused upon people’s unity and cooperation for each other’s and love and care for their physical environment in the island barangay.

The people went up the hill half day before typhoon Haiyan landed in Mindoro Island. They stayed in their elementary school while others stayed in their respective churches that serves as their evacuation area. Houses in the shoreline were destroyed by the strong wind and storm surge, fences along the shoreline were swept away by strong waves. Worst of all, their more than 5 hectares seaweeds farm was swept away by the very strong storm surge.

Seaweed farming is their main livelihood,( green seaweed- sakol, and brown seaweed- penuesan) while small-time fishing, goat and backyard swine raising is their extra source of income. Seldom that they plant palay crops instead backyard corn and vegetable gardening is their support income source.

They derive their drinking water in a spring distributed to the community through PVC pipeline.

The island is a picturesque of severely denuded mountain with volcanic soil. Cogon and talahib grasses dominate the skyline with some patches of indigenous alibangbang (Peliostigma malabaricum) trees, talisay (Terminalla catappa) or umbrella tree, and some coconuts and tree shrubs. Its shoreline is ruggedly curved with protruding limestone and dead coral reefs as its walls indicative of the strong impact of ocean waves battering the wall during high tide and storm surge.

Their main problem is capital for their seaweeds farming. They were deprived of the government services although they said that they are recipients of the Government’s Concern for the Poor  where each  family received 500 pesos monthly allowance  from the government, but this program is not sustainable in terms of life quality assurance hence the need for NGO intervention. Hospitalization for the sick community members during time of emergency is difficult since they do not have boat ambulance, they need to pay first before they can bring the sick person into a hospital in Sn Jose. Another problem is the presence of loan shark that devour big chunk of interest charged over their loan for their seaweeds industry. The people won’t admit the existence of this loan shark however in unstructured interview of one relief recipient, she stated there really exist one person who do the monopoly of 5×6 in the island. The condition was that loan shall be given on the pretext that their harvest shall be sold to him alone His use to buy the bulk of dried seaweeds at a very low price while he can sell it in Sn Jose at highest price double the amount at farm gate price in Ilin Island. The loan shark is a very prominent person, a retiree from one religious group now living in Ilin Island.

January 18, 2014- Relief Operation for Victims of Typhoon Haiyan in Barangay Calintaan, San Jose Occidental Mindoro:

Number of Recipients: 160

The distribution of relief goods was made after the short introduction made by Mr. Nasino about the relief project that the people were made to understand that this emanate from the President of Aldersgate College in Solano Nueva Vizcaya Philippines. Dr. Junifen F. Gauuan the project proponent that linked the project to ICA Japan and the Japan PLATFORM. Miss Maki Tsukamoto of ICA Japan gave her inspiring message of hope, encouragement to move on, unity and cooperation among the recipients.She told the people that the Japan government was equally thankful to the Philippine government for the extended assistance it made during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan particularly in Fukusima and Miagi prefectures hence this gesture of Japanese people to victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Barangay Calintaan is a shoreline barangay where 160 household recipients of relief goods emanate. They are plain poor Visayan fisherfolks that solely depend upon fishing as their source of income. Their houses are built right in the shoreline area which is prone to high tide, and tidal waves. The reality was that their houses built on light materials were smashed by the storm surge during the height of typhoon Haiyan. Half day before the typhoon land fall, they were hauled in the nearby elementary school by the LGU. Some of them were able to bring their own kitchen utensils and food to cook while others are handicapped that made them starved for 3 meals during the storm duration. The LGU was not able to attend to this people’s needs because the barangay and town officials were also victims of the calamity.

Although the area is widely engaged in agricultural production, the recipients are merely farm laborers for hire since they are migrants from Visayan island. They have established their families in the shoreline area of Calintaan. Heads of the families are engaged in fishing, the young adults are farm laborers, housewives accepts laundry others are engaged in vending activities. They do not own any piece of land in the shoreline, they are informal settlers. Some of them are engaged in scavenging retrieving whatever is still priced in the garbage box of every household. They could hardly send their children to school. Malnutrition among them could easily be noticed, pale, thin and worried faces manifest such conditions, and uncertainty for their future couple with the more touching scene that of  bulging tummy of young children and toddlers with thin arms and legs deep set eyes in an eye bag that needs immediate medical and nutrition feeding intervention from the LGU particularly from the DSWD.

January 18, 2014 (p.m.)Relief Distribution for Victims of Tyhoon Haiyan in San Jose Magbay, Labangan,Pag-asa,Diego Silang, Bubog, San Roque 2, Mabini, Bagong Sikat, Urban Poor, Matahimik Village (near cemetery), Caminawit and Poblacion in Mindoro Occidental

Number of Recipients: 170

Note: (Originally the place of distribution is focused only in Barangay Caminawit, however due to the fact that the said place has been the distribution center of previous relief operation wherein the Barangay Captain INSIST to take charged in the distribution of goods for the good of his men , and the same process he wanted to do with the ICA team, we decided to call it off instead we asked the UMC San Jose Social Action Committee to gather all the poor and deserving residents non-methodist   living around the San Jose UMC hence the distribution took place in the UMC that afternoon of January 18, 2014.)

The distribution of relief goods was made in the UMC social hall in San Jose Mindoro Occidental during the early noontime and early after lunch lead by Rev.Arellera, together with Miss Maglaya and Carolyn C. Abenosa the Chairman and member respectively, of the San Jose UMC Social Action Committee. The move was approved by the D.S. Rev. Willie Yasay.

The same people assisted us with Maki Tsukamoto and Motoko Imagi during the afternoon distribution.  Miss Tsukamoto stressed to the people that Japan government is very thankful when during the 2011 devastation brought by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Philippine government extend financial assistance to Japanese people hence this gesture of helping one another, that their presence signify their thankfulness that the relief goods is their gift to the Filipino people who are victims of typhoon Haiyan.

Most of the recipients belonged to the poorest among the poor sector of the community in Sn Jose Occidental Mindoro. The Social Action Committee of the Sn Jose UMC took the initiative of gathering these people from the surrounding zone of the UMC as far as the shoreline squatter’s area near the airport.  They are the most affected during the devastation of typhoon Haiyan. Their shanties made out of very light materials were blown away by the strong wind especially those living in the vicinity of airport  squatters area, FACOMA squatters area and those living in the urban poor community and Matahimik village near the cemetery and the adjoining zone. They vacated to the nearest school building that serves as evacuation center half day before the typhoon Haiyan landfall in Mindoro Occidental. They have experienced the strong rain and devastating wind at 200 km per hr.

Some of the recipients are scavengers, laundry women, part-time tricycle driver on percentage basis of payment, errands to rich families, fishermen. Almost all of the recipients are non-Methodist. Some are teary eyed when receiving the relief goods that they said this people from other country(Japanese) look upon them that the UMC took them from their lair which LGU officials and other church denomination did not do for them until now after the storm devastation.

January 22, 2014 – Report Update for Typhoon Haiyan Project in the following sitios-Upper Kuywan, Dayaga,Salidang, Yabat, Naibwan, Ilya, Ibanag, Timbangan, and Ilya in Barangay Batasan, Mindoro Occidental

Venue: Naibwan

Number of Recipients: 220

Sitio Naibwan is in Barangay. Batasan located in the southwestern part of San Jose Occidental Mindoro. It is more than 100 km away from Sn Jose town proper. Its topographic characteristics is varied. It has an all towering mountain of solid black rock’ some are covered with dried cogon grass and green patches of gully residual forest shrubs and trees.  Rain tree or acacia (Samanea saman) dominate the savanna foot of the rock mountain. The road to the perimeter boundary is rough. Alongside of farm is planted to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). But the farm is primarily planted to rice during rainy season. The way going to Naibwan proper is the dried river bed that swell during rainy season but the water does not remain stagnant or for long in a day then it subside going down to another river catch basin.

Their main source of income is farming, but most of them have cassava and sweet potato garden. They have Dep Ed. Elementary School (complete) with teachers, a clinic and twice a month medical mission from the Rural Health Unit. They also have cheap supply of medicine like analgesic, antibiotics, and other non-prescription drug.

Their community does not have proper house zoning but they have barangay social hall that was destroyed (for repair) by the strong Typhoon Haiyan. Their houses were swept away by the strong wind during the typhoon.

Their major problem is land tenure, and ownership. People that went there upon the invitation of Mr. Sonny Robles, the Hagibbat Vice Chairman.

Most of them are PHILHEALTH and 4 P’s (Govt. Concern for the poor) recipients. The PLAN Intl. provided them with potable drinking water, a school building, and a clinic. They received trainings on Agroforestry, tree planting, vegetable gardening, crops production, and livestock raising.

January 23, 2014- Report Update on Typhoon Haiyan Project in Roxas, Mindoro Oriental

Monitoring activity done by Maki Tsukomoto and Motoko Imagi

Venue:  Shoreline Barangay Dangay and Dalahican

People were assembled in Barangay Dangay in one of the open space in the shoreline area. The monitoring activity revealed that most of the recipients of the relief items have shared their goods with their neighbors whose names were not called during the distribution. That they are very thankful to Japanese people who donated the food items. That the supply lasts for 2 weeks, while they continue to move on, look for another source of income like vending prime commodity goods in the sea port.  Other male populace whose boats were destroyed during the typhoon are now driver to manual trybike that roam around the busy downtown Roxas. This is to augment their family income.

That their boats and fishing nets are still under repair due to lack of money. That their main problem is capital for small business and the rapir of their fishing nets.

The same situation and problems occur in Barangay Dalahican since it is also a shoreline Barangay. The only difference was that in Dalahican. People need capital for their livelihood request such as, backyard poultry, piggery and vending prime commodities.