For Sagip Migrante, we have tried to respond as swiftly as we could: 1. To ensure that immediate relief would be sent while we are setting up a system, we linked up with the NCCP as they have transport for boxes. We were able to send 10 boxes (of assorted goods: clothes, blankets, food) to Leyte and more than 5 boxes of old clothes to Ilo-ilo as per their request. 2. Our MSP coordinator in Cebu is now preparing to conduct soup kitchens in 3 affected areas in Cebu, through SAGIP Migrante’s assistance. Since, residents of Tacloban and other parts of EV are now filling up the evacuation center in Cebu, she is also now starting to explore efforts to conduct a relief mission at the evacuation center. 3. The Home Office, together with our local chapters in MetroManila, conducted relief drives in urban poor communities and we were able to collect more than ten boxes of old clothes, a little food and a heavy load of coin donations. (It is so heartwarming how our kababayans who are also in threat of demolitions and are themselves poor are so willing to help in their own way.) The boxes of old clothes were immediately sent to NCCP to send off to Iloilo. 4. Sagip Migrante has also initiated its efforts to reach or contact missing relatives of members who hae requested assistance. Though we know this is very difficult as we do not have sufficient resources and machinery, we are trying various ways to help in this aspect. We have connected with media contacts who themselves have included this service in their coverage. We have also contacted our network of returned workers in the Visayas who can help. Out of the initial 56 names that were initially sent to us, 6 of them are now in touch with their relatives abroad. 5. We also now have a Sagip Migrante coordinator on the ground in EV. His family was also affected in Tacloban but he is willing to help. Today is the first day of our efforts to check for those who have asked us for news about relatives they cannot contact: target communities would be the communities of the missing relatives we are looking for. This is quite a difficult task, as he mentioned, because the first order of the day would be to look for these communities as all landmarks have been destroyed and they have to muddle through. Moreover, among the thousands of those who died, many have not been identified. Another challenge and worry for us is the psychosocial effect on him. A third challenge is the cost: a 2 liter can of gasoline costs P1,800! He has to go to Catbalogan and back to leyte for food supplies; and the hirng of available vehicles are in the rangeof P10,000-15,000/per day. And, of course, there is the security aspect. He reports that, as a response to the reported lootings and chaos, it is almost like martial law now in Tacloban! Thus, we decided that this foray will be on an exploratory basis. His initial report based on his text messages is as follows: The emotions and psychosocial impact is just now starting to unravel. As he is going around, he can see people breaking down beside the road, just crying. Some people he asked directions from just stare and do not talk. So far he has gone to the barrios of Sagkahan and San Jose. He also went to Palo, Leyte, Basey and Sta.Fe in Samar. He reports that in the first 4 communities, there is much damage and still many missing (except for Santa Fe). Families are still looking for each other. Local government units, at the barangay level, have still to organize themselves, too. 6. Sagip is also now linking up with other organizations on the ground in Bacolod and Panay. Since our local counterparts in these provinces have a lot on their shoulders, we are also seeking to mobilize more organizations, that are quite reliable, to help in our Sagip Migrante efforts. As we continue to seek ways of ensuring that we our help reaches those who are in need, Sagip Migrante needs to clarify some points for you to consider: 1. We would like to inform those who would like to send donations directly to organizations in EV to work with national organizations at this point as our local counterparts in EV still need support. 2. We can only promise our best efforts in so far as our “search for missing relatives” is concerned. Under the circumstances, SAGIP Migrante had to respond to requests to help our kababayans to get in touch with their relatives they could not get in touch with. With the devastation in EV and with so many missing and still out of touch, SAGIP is trying to do its part BUT this cannot be a regular feature of SAGIP as a tremendous amount of resources- both machinery and finance- is needed for this. 3. We also want to make a call for volunteers. If you have relatives or friends who would want to volunteer, we will have be repacking and organizing relief goods for the 21st relief mission on NOV. 19 and 20. We are still looking into the possibility of bringing volunteers as we want our resources maximized for victims. A road trip FOR many people might be too expensive. A standard relief pack contains 5 kilos of rice, ½ kilo of salt, ½ kilo of mungbeans and dried fish. 4. We would like to inform you that we will also be allotting a part of SAGIP funds for solar lights which we will be donating to selected communities or organizations as they are quite expensive. (P2000/solar light). However, based on the feedback we have received –(during our Habagat relief operations last year and fromTyphoon Pablo relief organizations), the solar lights (which were donated by Migrante Australia) came in very handy.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 17:56:14 +0000
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