The UNDP helps rebuild Eastern, Western Visayas

CEBU, Philippines - UNDP Typhoon Yolanda Response Program project manager Eden Garde said that instead of distributing relief goods, the organization focused more on debris clearing and cash-for-work programs.

Its cash-for-work programs that began last December provided immediate employment opportunities to the typhoon victims, with each beneficiary receiving P260 per day as prescribed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Beneficiaries were made to work for at least 15 days others a chance to earn too. They worked on debris clearing, restoration of documents damaged, cleaning of schools and demolition of buildings, among others.

Garde pointed out that they prioritized debris clearing since relief goods will not be able to reach the affected families if the roads are impassable.

“Nobody was doing it and this was an intervention that was really needed,” she said.

“Instrumental kaayo ang UNDP especially during the first response. Ormoc City is one of the cities and municipalities in Region 8  nga dunay  sanitary landfill. Dako sila og natabang especially sa debris management,” said Ormoc City Councilor Pedro Ebcas, who is also the operations chairman of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

After all the debris was cleared, the UNDP supported the local government units in managing their wastes, particularly their dumpsites. It provided waste management experts from other countries to teach and train the people.

Garde said that if all the wastes will not be handled properly, it will create a huge impact to the health of the people especially those who are living in resettlement areas near the dumpsites.

UNDP also launched a special project on helping junkshops in Tacloban, Ormoc and Guiuan to recover by giving trucks and other equipment.

“Their operations were really hampered because they lost a lot of assets,” Garde said, adding that the project will hopefully be in full swing by the end of the year.

UNDP also promoted the concept of waste collection points and waste segregation in several barangays.

Garde said that the UNDP will continue helping Yolanda victims until 2017 following the  US$13 million  donation of the  European Union, which is for the development phase of the Typhoon Yolanda Response Program, to be implemented for three years.

The new project will support the construction of disaster-resilient public structures such as evacuation centers and barangay halls, as well as extensive intervention on the livelihood of typhoon victims.

A total of 12 disaster resilient evacuation centers are to be constructed, as well as a cold storage for the aqua culture industry and agriculture sector in the region.

“There is clearly the need to rehabilitate livelihood resources wherein we will support high-value crops and tackle the entire value chain as much as possible to ensure profitability for farmers and fisher folks and viability of the project,” Garde explained.

Dario Cubelo, Western and Northern Leyte coordinator of the UNDP Typhoon Yolanda Response Program, said one of the model evacuation centers, which will be constructed beside the Ormoc City Hall, is a two-storey building that will cost P20 million. The design is now being finalized and the groundbreaking will start any time this month, he added.

Cubelo said the structure will have solar panels and will not be dependent on electricity.

“Initially, we want a helipad on top of the building for emergency relief operations and all. At least 250 families can be housed. I-replicate nato ni to 15 evacuation centers nga himuon nato, one here, two in Biliran, and the rest in Tacloban and Samar,” he said.

The European Union funding will also be allocated for the housing project that is aimed to build disaster-resilient communities in the government-owned lots in Tacloban, Ormoc and Hernani.

It will demonstrate resilient housing structures that can withstand 300 kilometers per hour of wind. A 28-square meter house will have a construction budget of P260,000.   It will benefit 165 households with 55 families per area.

However, Garde cited that housing projects can be challenging because some LGUs do not have available land.

Garde said that every UNDP housing project is integrated with a livelihood program to support to the affected families.

They have extended support to micro enterprises in terms of asset replacement and entrepreneurship training to enhance the viability of their operations.

UNDP also inked a strong partnership with the  Technical Education and Skills Development Authority  to provide skills training to the typhoon victims.

Garde believes that economic empowerment is highly important when bouncing back after a tragedy. “If you have the money, you can recover anytime no matter what happens as long as you are alive,” she said.

Korea has also donated US$3 million for the construction of landfills in Basey and Guiuan. A vocational center will also be built in Basey. The Korean aid will also support livelihood projects such as the coconut debris clearing that will help other non-government organizations for their housing projects in terms of lumber supply.

There were also in-kind donations from different countries such as 80 generator sets from Norway that were distributed to LGUs and hospitals in the priority areas.

Garde added that UNDP also trains city and municipal officers of disaster risk and management councils on how to mitigate the effects of disasters and how to prepare for calamities such as Yolanda.

She added that to achieve sustainability of their projects, they have hired and deployed consultants and experts on specialized areas to train government employees.

Garde said that UNDP saw the need to help local government units get back on their feet.

“They really need support, especially the smaller LGUs. If ang Tacloban nga nahihirapan, what more the smaller ones,” she said.

“The need is really there. We cannot turn a blind eye on the people because it is really clear. In a post-disaster context, we make sure all of our interventions adhere to the building back better and safer principle,” Garde added.

She, however, said that while the UNDP is there to provide support, the LGUs must also have initiative. “They just have to believe in themselves. There is value to self-help. Despite the disaster, there should be self-reliance that should permeate in the mindsets of the people,” Garde concluded. (FREEMAN)