Yolanda survivors undergo tension releasing exercises

MANILA, Philippines - Around 400 survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City and other municipalities in Leyte have been given trauma and tension releasing exercises (TRE) to help them rebuild their lives.

Ginggay Hontiveros, director of the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Foundation’s Mission, said they conducted the TRE sessions in coordination with a group of experts led by Chris Balsley.

The group is composed of 17 TRE trainers from Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Thailand, Singapore and the US.

They also provided TRE training seminars to personnel of government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection.

The Human Capital Development Asia-Pacific, a training and consulting firm based in Singapore, sponsored the trip of Balsley’s team to the Philippines as a humanitarian assistance to Yolanda victims.

“Part of the efforts toward rebuilding Leyte is to provide psycho-social counseling to typhoon victims,” Hontiveros said.

Aside from Tacloban and Leyte, the team also conducted TRE sessions for calamity victims in Iloilo and Cebu.

The group will hold TRE sessions today for earthquake victims in Bohol, said Beth MacDonald, chairperson of HCD Asia-Pacific.