United in rebuilding Iligan

MANILA, Philippines - Hardened mud, scattered furniture, uprooted trees, collapsed concrete walls, toppled electric posts, and survivors trying to salvage whatever remained of their destroyed lives following the devastation brought by tropical storm “Sendong” welcomed The STAR Group’s Operation Damayan volunteers to Barangay Upper Hinaplanon in Iligan City last January 19.

Upper Hinaplanon, a barangay located beside the Mandulog river, has a population of 6,000 people comprised of both Muslims and Christians. Although of different cultures, residents have lived in this barangay for decades in harmony and peace, and the devastation left by the flood has united them even more as they struggle to rebuild their lives.

“We are happy we survived,” said Nabi Malingin, a mother of four. “My family has adjusted to our present situation. We stay in a roadside tent made of salvaged tarpaulins during the day for easy access to the evacuation center for our ration of food and other necessities, but at night we go back to our partially damaged house at Purok 9 where we sleep. It is still home.”  Her husband is doing odd jobs to eke out a living like most men who lost their means of livelihood following the flood.

As of January 19, the Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management command center reported total casualties has reached some 666 dead with 566 still missing.

Authorities attribute the magnitude of destruction and death caused by the flood to the illegal cutting of trees in the hinterlands of Iligan and Lanao del Sur. A total of 105,378 individuals have been affected by the floods, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) register.

Evacuees have relocated temporarily to a tent city.

The city government, led by Mayor Lawrence Cruz, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) Region 10, psychiatrists and volunteer groups are conducting stress debriefing sessions to survivors who lost their loved ones and all those who cannot cope with the traumatic experience.

Operation Damayan, led by Emy Cruz in a four-vehicle convoy comprised of a van and three cargo trucks loaded with relief goods, negotiated a dusty road going to the barangay.

On hand to coordinate with the group was Upper Hinaplanon barangay chairman Norodin Cabaro and personnel from the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) office as well as Eric Capitan, former city councilor and former barangay chairman of Sto. Rosario who is the owner of CM Enterprises, the exclusive distributor of The Philippine Star, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Pang Masa, and other publications.

Barangay secretary Rocon Mananga – who, with her husband Amer and their child, survived the flood by waiting for the water to subside for more than five hours on the second floor of their house – assisted as well.

Operation Damayan chose to distribute the relief goods, composed of a 25-kilo sack of Sinandomeng rice, food items, underwear and a saw and hammer, to some 300 recipients who are “home based” or living outside the evacuation center.

“I am very happy receiving these goods from Operation Damayan,” said Rohani Macalawi, 26, of Purok 3, whose husband operates a computer shop that was totally submerged during the flood. With their 5-month-old baby, the couple ran to Rohani’s grandfather’s house for safety.

“Salamat Ginoo, salamat pud sa Operation Damayan (Thank God, thank you also to Operation Damayan),” said Librada Permites, 75, of Purok 9, whose husband, a vegetable vendor, has had to stop his trade temporarily to make repairs ton their damaged house and clean their surroundings.

The relief goods of rice, underwear, and construction tools were requested by the flood victims themselves.

Carmen Cagel, Ellen Espina, Belen Pautan, Mobaira Bagul, Paciencia Velayo, Edna Mendoza, Ricardo Caga, Felipe Gamayao and many more recipients in chorus said “Daghang salamat sa STAR Operation Damayan (Many thanks to STAR Operation Damayan).”

The city government is now on the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase following the flood. Some 1,200 housing units will initially be constructed in a 15.9-hectare land at Barangay Sta. Elena, using funds personally turned over by President Aquino and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman three days after the calamity.

However, there are at least 5,237 families whose houses were totally damaged and who are now living in evacuation centers and tent cities. Even with donations like those coming from San Miguel Corporation, GMA Network, ABS-CBN, and a host of others, the city government has yet to reach its target of constructing 5,237 houses. Additional relocation sites are also being scouted by a city government task force.

Gawad Kalinga, led by Tony Meloto, has partnered with the local government for the construction of the houses.

In response to the assistance given by countless donors, local government units, corporations, international groups, foreign countries, non-government organizations, and individuals, Mayor Cruz said, “We have seen and are still seeing the best in people. Those who immediately responded to the calamity made sacrifices beyond the call of duty.”