Tag Archives: Leyte

[Press Release] Workers in Leyte, still far from recovery a year after Haiyan -CTUHR

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Workers in Leyte, still far from recovery a year after Haiyan

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Leyte–A year after Super Typhoon Haiyan battered Central Visayas, the working people of Leyte are still struggling to recover as poverty worsened with continued loss of jobs, lack of livelihood, inadequate government support and turtle-pace rehabilitation programs of the Aquino administration.

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Even those previously employed and promised jobs are still far from resuming their normal lives. Over 1,800 rank and file workers at PhilPhos for instance, have yet to recover from the loss of property and damage to their homes caused by the strongest typhoon to hit the country in recent history.

In a Center for Trade Union and Human Rights’ interview with Oliver Llagas, Board of Directors of the workers union at PhilPhos, he reported that the company promised many times to re-open (on March, August and October) but has not resumed operations until now allegedly due to conflicts with the insurance company. As a result, over 1,500 casual workers of the PhilPhos were retrenched. Some of them resorted to informal work like fishing and driving pedicabs while others found jobs in Pasar, another fertilizer plant in Isabel, Leyte.

Meanwhile, the remaining 340 union members at Philphos were at least allowed and paid to work for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the factory site.

The income however, is far lesser as Llagas and his co-workers can only work five days a week with no overtime. Their income cannot match the damages caused by the super typhoon and Llagas family situation has worsened than before. Like most of his co-workers in Philphos, Llagas has not fully restored his house one year after.

Llagas and other residents of Isabel, Leyte also expressed dismay over the very little support they have been receiving especially from the government. Llagas noted having received relief goods from the DSWD three times since the typhoon. He heard that financial assistance from P10,000 to P30,000 was given to those families whose homes were partially and totally-damaged but he and his co-workers did not get any.

Llagas also expressed fear that if the company’s situation drags longer, the factory may eventually shutdown which means loss of jobs for another 340 workers.
Network of disaster survivors formed

If there is an obvious positive development in the aftermath of this disaster,it is the formation of ‘Daluyong’, a network of disaster survivors specifically in Visayas and Mindanao following a conference held yesterday, November 6 in Tacloban City. CTUHR who attended the activity, says that the coming together of survivors and taking a lead role in demanding accountability against government neglect, amidst pronouncements of billions of support, is the most positive thing that calamities such as Haiyan had so far created.

“The Aquino government promises and reports of billions of pesos spent for rehabilitation only serve to aggravate the misery of and injustice to thousands still living in tents and from charity of others. In some decent housing projects, it is obvious that private sector delivers more, even without talking about it, and government seems content on private sector taking on the government obligations,” Daisy Arago, CTUHR Executive Director said.

‘Daluyong’ which literally means upsurge brought together typhoon, earthquakes survivors from Visayas and Mindanao as well as victims of atrocities like the Zamboanga siege to hold the Aquino government accountable for its “criminal neglect” to the victims and survivors of calamities.

“The poor who is always the immediate casualties of calamities created and aggravated by capitalist development greed thru forest denudation, reclamation of waters, mining to land coversion is pushed to unimaginable poverty and survivors have every right to demand justice. These demands are worth supporting and CTUHR supports and will continue to support such demand,” Arago added.
Note: CTUHR together with its partner organizations had conducted relief operations in Leyte, Samar, Iloilo, Capiz and has an ongoing rehabilitation projects in farming communities of Eastern and Western Samar. CTUHR is a partner of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) in its effort to support the victims of typhoon Haiyan.

Image attachment caption: A year after Typhoon Haiyan, Oliver Llagas, worker and unionist at Philphos has barely put back their home together.

For reference: Daisy Arago, Executive Director, CTUHR, +632.4110256.

RELEASE
7 Nov 2014

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[Press Release] MacArthur, Leyte residents say ‘YES to agriculture, NO TO BLACK SAND MINING!’ -ATM

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MacArthur, Leyte on the road to development six months after Yolanda
Residents say ‘YES to agriculture, NO TO BLACK SAND MINING!’

MacArthur, Leyte—For the first time in 6 months after super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), residents of baranggay Liwayway enjoyed their organically grown vegetables—an output from their rehabilitation project.

atm-logo

This is a promising start for one of the most affected municipalities in Eastern Visayas, thanks to the consolidated efforts of various local, national and international non-government organizations (NGOs) including Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), Christian Aid, Visayas State University (VSU), Irish Aid, PAKISAMA and FORGE.

“Nagsimula kaming umani noong Abril. Pero February hanggang March sinimulan na naming magtanim. Marami na kaming gulay na napalaki mayroong mais, ampalaya, patola, sitaw, kalabasa pepino at madami pang iba, (We started harvesting last April, but we started planting on February until March. We were able to grow different kinds of crops, there’s corn, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, string beans, squash, cucumber and many more.)” said Brenie Morcilla, Secretary General of Una sa Lahat ang Diyos – Bitok Lake Farmers and Fisherfolks Association UNLAD-BLFFA and a resident of MacArthur Leyte.

It was January this year when different organizations including ATM and PAKISAMA mapped out a sustainable food source and livelihood plan for various baranggays in MacArthur. Development of farm lay out, composting facilities and coconut nurseries and other crops nurseries were done as part of the long-term rehabilitation plan for the area.

The project was initially executed in the lands owned by UNLAD-BLFFA member—a member organization of ATM that has been very active in actions and advocacies against mining activities in the area. Unfortunately, MacArthur is mostly agricultural lands threatened by black sand or magnetite mining.

“Mayroong mahigit isang daang kasapi ang UNLAD-BLFFA na nakikinabang sa proyektong ito, pero binabahagi namin ito kahit sa mga hindi kasapi ng aming organisasyon. Mula sa mga pananim namin, binibigyan namin sila ng mga buto para maitanim nila at makapag simula din silang mag-backyard. Sa ganitong pamamraan, makaka ani din sila ng sarili nilang organic na mga pananim na pwede nilang pagkuhaan ng pagkain o maliit na kabuhayan. (There are more than one hundred members of UNLAD-BLFFA who benefit from this project but we also share it to non-members. We give them seedlings from our crops for them to grow in their own backyard. This way, they can also produce their organically grown crops that they could use as a source of food or small livelihood.” Morcilla added.

MacArthur is one of the 4 municipalities in Leyte that benefit from ATM and its other partner organizations’ early recovery efforts. Mayorga, Tolosa and Dulag are the three others.

According to ATM National Coordinator Jaybee Garganera, the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the four municipalities in Leyte will continue as long the communities still need support. He also stressed out how a community’s initiative plays a vital role in the continuous and sustained development and progress of the area.

“MacArthur along with Mayorga, Tolosa and Dulag are really impressive communities. Despite the devastation that Yolanda swept them with, they remained resilient.” Garganera said.

Garganera added however, that Leyte still has a long way to go before it achieves an independent state of development. He also admitted that though different organizations are giving their all out support to the Yolanda-affected areas, a faster and more efficient response from the government is still needed by the struggling communities.

“It has been six months and our government is still on the ‘aide allocation’ stage. Where are these allocations? Why is it that there are communities which still live in the dark because of lack of electric supply. Why are there people who are still homeless? Why are there fishermen and farmers who still remain to have no means of livelihood? We understand that organizing the rehabilitation effort is not an easy task, but the people— the survivors of Yolanda cannot wait for the government to be ready. They have been doing that for six months now.” Said Garganera.

Garganera also said that in order to produce a genuine and long-term development, the government should look at the bigger picture which is the conservation and protection of the environment— A principle Morcilla strongly shares.

In a message to President Aquino, Morcilla asked ‘Pnoy’ to not make things harder for them by aggravating their situation through approval and implementation of projects and operations that clearly degrades the environment. Morcilla is referring to the threat that black sand mining imposes to their community.

“Dito kami kumukuha ng kabuhayan, dito kami nabubuhay. Ito ang dapat prumotekta sa amin sa mga kalamidad. IPATIGIL NIYO NA ANG PAGMIMINA DITO SA LEYTE. Sa lahat ng dinanas namin noong Yolanda dahil sa epekto ng paglalapastangan sa kalikasan, Sana Ibalato niyo na to sa amin. (Our environment is where we get our livelihood from, it is where we live. It is what’s supposed to protect us from calamities. STOP THE MINING ACTIVITIES IN LEYTE. With all the consequences environmental degradation has caused us during and after Yolanda, we hope you can give this one to us).” Said Morcilla.

ATM and UNLAD-BLFFA believes that the mining operations in Leyte have caused serious damages in the farmlands and fisheries of the area. These damages are believed to have resulted to lower productivity of agricultural and marine products, prevalent health concerns and food insecurity.

Alyansa Tigil Mina is an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations who are opposing the aggressive promotion of large-scale mining in the Philippines. The alliance is currently pushing for a moratorium on mining, revocation of Executive Order 270-A, repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and passage of the AMMB.

For more information:
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, (0917) 549.82.18 <nc@alyansatigilmina.net>
Check Zabala, ATM Media and Communications Officer, (0927) 623.50.66 checkzab@gmail.com

ATM Press Release
May 8, 2014

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[Statement] Teachers decry p300 additional poll duty pay -TDC

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Teachers decry p300 additional poll duty pay

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said they appreciate the P300.00 additional honorarium for teachers who served during the 2013 barangay elections held on October 28 and special elections on November 28 held in Bohol Province and Zamboanga City. The announcement came from the budget department yesterday as its response to the Comelec’s appeal for increase in teachers’ pay.

TDC

“This is an admission that the Comelec gave us less than what we deserved. However, we would be more thankful if they provided a truly just pay commensurate to our tasks.” Said Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson.

The TDC prior to the elections protested what they call “a legalized exploitation” of teachers thru the compulsory election duties that they said exposes them to “all sorts of dangers- health risks, harassment, legal charges and physical attack.”

“Yet at the end of all these sufferings,” Basas continued “teachers will only get a very minimal compensation- not even enough for transportation, paracetamol, food and energy drink to keep us awake, often, the honorarium comes very late, as late as a month or more.”

Basas cited the October 28 elections in which the group received reports of non-payment of the P2, 000.00 honorarium as late as one month after the polls. Meanwhile the payment for those who served as canvassers (amount varies depending on the number of clustered precinct) as well as the P500.00 transportation allowance have not been paid in such areas as Palo, Leyte and Olongapo City, respectively, that is two months after the elections.

Basas also criticized the government for paying “huge amount of honoraria and bonuses to those who practically just sit in their respective offices, including the bosses of government corporations and financial institutions” and giving away people’s money to the “discretionary funds of incompetent and corrupt officials” while providing very little to the lowly rank and file employees.

The group long before the elections asked the government to pay those who sit as board of election tellers (BET) more. “The amount of honorarium should have been doubled, it should not be less than P4, 000.00, same as our total per diem during automated elections, because barangay elections use manual system which is more physically exhausting.” Basas added.

Basas, again reiterated his group’s call for the abolition of the mandated poll duties of teachers.

“These are the reasons why we push for the optional election duties. We cannot refuse the assignment to sit as election workers, even if this task may expose us to harm, even death. We cannot negotiate with the Comelec on the amount they want us to be paid. We can never demand for a lawyer to defend us when we are in trouble. The mandated poll duty of public school teachers is a legal excused for the government to perpetuate exploitation.” Basas ended. #

Reference: Benjo Basas, National Chairperson 0920-5740241/ 3853437

PRESS STATEMENT
December 30, 2013

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[Press Release] Workers in Region 8 demand employment, people’s participation in Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction plan -PM

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Workers in Region 8 demand employment, people’s participation in Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction plan

Declaring they won’t beg and live on relief and aid forever, several associations of workers in the informal sector in Region 8 today launched a campaign demanding employment, social protection and people’s participation as bedrocks of Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction plan to address not just the immediate but also the long term needs of Pepe and Pilar.

pmLogo1

The campaign came days after the government announced the US$8.17-billion or P361-B plan under the so-called Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) which will be completed in four years or by 2017.

Held in Tacloban City, the campaign launch was spearheaded by tricycle and trisikad drivers and operators (TODA’s) in Tacloban, Hilongos and Baybay, in coordination with the labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

After attending a twelve noon mass at the Sto. Nino Church, TODA members held a motorcade around Tacloban City with posters bearing the call, “Make jobs a priority in Yolanda rehab”, wrapped around their trikes. A gathering and small salu-salo followed the motorcade at the Church’s Social Hall where family members and other Yolanda survivors gathered to hear the groups’ manifesto and affirm their commitment to the collective struggle of rebuilding their lives and their communities.

In a joint Manifesto signed by the Tacloban Federation of MCF Drivers and Operators (TAFEMDO), the Hilongos-based Trisikad Operators and Drivers Organization (TODO), and Partido ng Manggagawa-Region 8, the groups explained that prior to the onslaught of Yolanda (Haiyan), they already were living poor, miserable lives since transporting people around the city through motorized and non-motorized cabs for hire was their only source of income.

The Rebolustonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) in Leyte also signed the manifesto in solidarity with the workers.

“Because income is irregular in this nature of work, we earn less than what we need. This condition likewise explains why many of us, together with other poor people, live in urban poor communities where we face recurrent and extreme vulnerabilities from both man-made and natural calamities. In other words, we are poor, defenceless and were unprepared to face the strongest typhoon in history,” read the manifesto.

Jobs as priority

According to Judy Torres, regional coordinator of Partido ng Manggagawa, this was the main reason why they were urging the government and donor agencies to make jobs a priority in Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction plans.

“We want jobs because it is a guarantee to a person’s long-term security and a life of dignity,” said Torres, adding that while everybody was devastated it is the poor that suffered most.

“We want to rebuild our lives. We want to rebuild our communities. Hence, in the rehabilitation and rebuilding process, we do not want to just revert back to where we were before Yolanda. We want a new community – a better community,” added the manifesto.

Torres, who also chairs TAFEMDO, added that aside from providing employment, “the State must also provide victims of Yolanda a broad range of social protection to enable them to live a more secure life in the face of the ‘new normal’ and the worsening climate crisis.”

The workers’ groups also called on the government, both national and local, to put their act together in formulating a new type of rehabilitation and rebuilding plan, saying people at this point in time are not interested in squabbles and personal plans among politicians.

“What you owe us is immediate, climate-resilient, inclusive, and empowering rehabilitation and rebuilding program,” said the groups, stressing further that in the rebuilding process, direct participation by the people is far more important than private consultants and contractors.

International responsibility

The groups likewise urged donor countries and international aid agencies that once the relief and life-saving stage is over, “we enjoin you to help us build a new model community out of the ruins of Yolanda.”

They further stated: “While we clearly understand that it was Nature’s wrath that made our lives more miserable now, we are also aware that today’s extreme weather systems are the awful outcome of climate change caused by unrestrained economic activities of industrial countries. Thus, we believe that more than the humanitarian aspect, developed countries have the historical, moral, and social responsibility to come to our aid.”

Specific demands

The TODA groups in Tacloban have come up with specific demands addressed to concerned government agencies, international donors, as well as the Church and civic groups. These include:

§ Jobs for displaced TODA members and for unemployed Taclobanons.
§ Moratorium on payment of fees, specifically the renewal of business permits for FY 2014.
§ Financial assistance for motor/cab repairs or for acquisition of new units.
§ Fuel subsidy for registered TODA members.
§ Mandatory SSS and Philhealth coverage for TODA members through national government or local government sponsorship programs.
§ In-city relocation and climate-resilient socialized housing program for informal settlers.
§ Participation in the rehabilitation and rebuilding process.

Except for some specific items, the same set of demands will be pursued by workers associations in Hilongos and Baybay.

The groups said they are making this appeal not as mere victims of Yolanda but as Filipino citizens who are entitled to the broadest social protection possible from the State.

“Finally, we believe that everything is possible as long as everyone considers the task of rehabilitation and rebuilding a collective mission and the dream for a new community rising out of Yolanda ruins a common vision,” concluded the manifesto.

PRESS RELEASE
Partido ng Manggagawa
30 December 2013
Contact: Judy Torres
Partido ng Manggagawa Coordinator for Region 8
Chairperson, Tacloban Federation of MCH Drivers and Operators (TAFEMDO)
09262389963; 09482495848

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[Statement] TDC on Government’s Christmas present to its teachers and employees

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Benjo Basa source petiburgisdotcom“Both in time of tragedy and the season of Christmas, the government provided insufficient assistance to its teachers and employees. The Department of Education (DepEd) gave out lipsticks and make-up kits to the devastated teachers of Leyte– instead of much needed goods, temporary shelter and financial assistance. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved a P5, 000.00 bonus for state workers, 50% short of the P10, 000.00 allotment during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Worst, Aquino government will implement the mass lay-off policy in DepEd and other agencies crafted during ex-PGMA’s time. This is the government’s Christmas present to its teachers and employees.”

-TDC Chair Benjo Basas
0920-5740241

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[People] Recovery begins with teachers. By Benjo Basas

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Recovery begins with teachers
Benjo Basas, TDC Chair
November 20, 2013

Recovery begins with teachers. Photo by TDC

Recovery begins with teachers. Photo by TDC

I remember this was the theme for World Teachers’ Day celebration in October 5, 2010, because that year, the world witnessed some of the worst natural disasters in history. For this year, that theme would still be relevant in our very own country.

File photo by petiburgis.com

File photo by petiburgis.com

Some teachers of Leyte are among those people who left the island to take temporary shelter and solicit help from relatives in Cebu, Metro Manila or other relieving places. Five of those who came to Manila are members of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) from Leyte, two from Tanauan, one from Jaro, one from MacArthur and another one from Tacloban. They travelled either via C-130 flight or a long bus ride via Maharlika highway or commercial flight from Cebu. All of them have informed me and I was able to meet them in separate instances.

The couple from Tanauan already travelled back to Leyte yesterday carrying much needed goods- medicines, food and other essentials which Sir Lino, the husband said “Para ito sa mga teacher sa lugar namin. Mga teacher kasi ang kawawa sa balyahan pag kumukuha ng relief goods, hindi natin kaya makipagsabayan eh.” He looks very weak, physically and perhaps weaker psychologically. He could not even smile and I understand his predicament, so just I asked him about the situation of my paryentes in Tanauan (because according to a Facebook status of a relative, there are more than 50 casualties from the clan alone and I’m pretty sure she included her maternal relatives in the headcount), he answered, “Masuwerte pa nga ang mga Basas dun sir kasi nasa mas mataas na baryo sila, hindi kagaya naming na nasa tabing-dagat.” He could hardly carry the bag of goods and just drag it to the bus that will travel that night to Tacloban, their trip is scheduled the following morning. It was more painful for us, because what we gave him is just enough for a day or two days consumption of his family, yet he is going to further share it to other teachers.
Another teacher, Sir Danny, the one from Jaro, Leyte left the province with his two children and his mother who needs to take dialysis treatment in Manila. They braved the long queue for 48 hours just to hitch a C-130 flight from Tacloban airport to Manila. Rain, sunlight, thirst, hunger, physical pain and the site and smell of dead bodies in the area make the agony unimaginably painful. At one time he asked his mother to act as if she is so weak so the authorities may prioritize them in which the mother replied, “Anak, hindi ko na kailangang magpanggap na mahina, dahil mahinang-mahina na talaga ako.” He cried when finally, he stepped on the platform of the plane that ensures his ride, “Akala ko nananaginip lang ako, masaya ako na hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko.” They are now in Caloocan, in Sta. Quiteria where his relatives reside.

Another group, lead by Mam Lyn, a teacher from MacArthur, Leyte took a temporary refuge in a public school in Taguig where the principal is a supporter of TDC and a personal friend of mine. They met in Leyte during the campaign period, both of them helped the campaign of Ating Guro Partylist. Ma’am Lyn is very friendly and accommodating. I remember when I visited Leyte last December, she fetch me from the airport and brought me to my destination, itinerary actually. She travelled with two daughters, a daughter-in-law and 3 grandchildren. When I visited her in Taguig last Monday, she looks fine despite the stories of devastation, “Masuwerte kayo at hindi kayo nabahaan,” she said why recalling the horrible sites of Leyte towns from McArthur to Tacloban. We handed her what’s left of the goods TDC members brought in our meeting last Saturday- some canned goods, instant noodles and biscuits. She checked the bags and asked “Waray bugas?” She laughs on her own remark. “Salamat Doy kay bugas na lang akong bilihin.” She said in mixed Waray and Tagalog.

Early yesterday, I received a text message from Cristy Diomaro, a master teacher and who teaches mentally gifted children at Sto. Nino SPED Center in Tacloban City. She was in Cebu airport that time and waiting to board on a flight to Manila while I was at the DepEd central office in Pasig. She came all the way from Tacloban via Ormoc and then rode a ferry to Cebu to take a commercial flight to Manila. She called me when she arrived in NAIA and I told her that I will bring her to the House Committee on Basic Education hearing where DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro and I are among the resource persons along with some DepEd officials and disaster management experts. The urgent hearing aimed to tackle the possible legislation of the Disaster Preparedness Bill for public schools initiated by Cong. Kimi Cojuanco, also the committee chair. We took our lunch at the TDC office in Barangay Central, QC, “After two weeks, ngayon lang uli nakakain ng hindi canned goods at instant noodles,” she said laughing, her niece Roxanne who travelled along with her agreed. We left their bags at the office and went all the way to Batasan.

During the hearing, Ma’am Cristy broke in tears every time the Yolanda tragedy is mentioned. She reacts in the audience seat when Sec. Luistro presented the DepEd relief and rehabilitation effort. Seemingly, she is not satisfied with the way the DepEd handle things in the area- far from what the secretary has been reported. She also said the bad politics between the national government and the local officials exacerbated the situation in Tacloban.

When Cong. Kimi Cojuangco asked me for comments, I took the opportunity to introduce Ma’am Cristy to the committee members, the chair recognized her, “We would like to acknowledge the presence of Ms. Cristy Diomaro, a teacher from Tacloban City” she said which further made Ma’am Cristy emotional.

After the meeting, officials flocked her and gave their words of sympathy and encouragement, among them DepEd Undersecretary Dina Ocampo, DepEd Assistant Secretary Lorna Dig-Dino and Bro. Armin Luistro himself. Ms. Gigi Ricafort, the committee secretary spared her little amount and a big hug, both of them and practically all the people left in the hall were crying. The teary-eyed Luistro felt the sacrifices of his teachers as he listens to the narration of Ma’am Cristy. She reiterates, “Sir we need help for us to recover. I love my students so much, matatalino silang mga bata.”

The secretary immediately planned for events, among them the tracking of teachers who left Samar and Leyte and gather them all in DepEd Central office so they could give them the immediate assistance they need. He also asked me to closely coordinate all the data we gather from the field and submit them directly to his office. He then asked me what we can do to help the immediate recovery of the people in typhoon-ravaged areas, I said “Sir we must give them hope and inspiration.” In which, the secretary replied, “Cristy will be the face of hope and inspiration.”

Ma’am Cristy’s day in the lower house ended with the words of assurance from the secretary that immediate help from the DepEd is underway which seemingly gave her a relief and strengthen her. Finally, the secretary gave her an embrace, perhaps the most relieving embrace she ever received. As she bids goodbye to her newly-found comforters, she left a strong words “I believe Tacloban will soon recover and the recovery will begin with our teachers and schools.”

The secretary was impressed by Ma’am Cristy’s courage, passion for her work, resilience and survival- characters that define the teachers of Samar, Leyte and the entire country. Indeed, Tacloban and the rest of the areas devastated by Yolanda will soon rise and our schools will be the source of strength. #

For details: 

Cristy Diomaro-Gallano, Tacloban teacher, 0917-6956331/ 0939-9198894
Benjo Basas, National Chairperson- 09205740241

  • Some teachers of Leyte left the province to solicit help from relatives and friends in Metro Manila and to directly raise the concerns of the public school teachers in storm-ravaged areas
  • One of them is MS Cristy Diomari0, 48 years old and a TDC member and teacher in Sto. Nino SPED center in Tacloban City
  • Cristy brings her horrible story of catastrophe in the House Committee of Basic Education hearing on disaster preparedness last Tuesday where she also able to talk to Secretary Armin Luistro, who assured her that help for teachers is underway
  • With her courage, passion for her work, love for children, resilience and survival, even Sec. Luistro is convinced that Cristy may be the face of hope and inspiration and eventual recovery of Tacloban, Leyte and Samar
  • Attached is the an article of narrative written by Benjo Basas, TDC Chair for further reference
_________________
For details:
Cristy Diomaro-Gallano, Tacloban teacher, 0917-6956331/ 0939-9198894
Benjo Basas, National Chairperson- 09205740241

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[Blog] A call to every Filipino: Lift each other’s spirit. By Kuya Edel

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A call to every Filipino: Lift each other’s spirit
By Kuya Edel

Rumor has it that Korina Sanchez had been suspended for one week in TV Patrol after commenting that a foreign reporter does not know what he is talking about, referring to the non-evidence of organized relief effort in Tacloban coming from the government. On the other hand, netizens flooded various social media sites with posts criticizing the Aquino administration for their slow, unorganized and somehow inadequate response to the disaster brought to us by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Even sincerities of the efforts of some celebrities and business institutions are being questioned. Things like these and more, sadly, will never help us get through with this hard time.

edel

We all recognize that the impact of Super Typhoon Yolanda is beyond our expectation, unimaginable in some sense. With the catastrophe that killed thousands of people, affected million Filipinos and damaged billion worth of property, each act of kindness, big and small, is important. This is the time in modern history that everybody is called to do something.

This is not just a disaster in Leyte or in Tacloban or in Visayas Region but — of the whole country. As a nation, we are very hurt. I call on to everybody to please, let us not demolish each other’s spirit including of the government. What we need right now is encouragement over criticism.

We have lost thousands of people from our rank. And I hope we instead work together so that no one will no longer lose his or her life, or his or her dignity or even the hope that things will get better the next day.

http://kuyaedel.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/a-call-to-every-filipino-lift-each-others-spirit/

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[Appeal] in Behalf of Victims of Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda -Oplan Sagip Bayan

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November 12, 2013

Dear Friends and Allies,

We are switching on our Oplan Sagip Bayan operations (Oplan People’s Rescue) in light of the damage by Typhoon Haiyan’s rampage (local name: Yolanda) in Eastern and Central Visayas.

This is in close coordination with CONCERN or Center for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation who has more than twenty five years of consistent work in the field of disaster-risk and rehabilitation and has assisted more than one million individuals since 1988.

kpd logo

Residents of Cebu, Bohol and nearby province of Leyte have been served with a double whammy as a 7.2 magnitude earthquake came twenty four days earlier, on October 15.

The energy released by the Visayas quake is equivalent to 951.5 kilotons of TNT, 796,214 lightning flashes, 30.16 million gallons of gasoline, or 1.90 billion sticks of dynamite according to the internet news site Rappler.

Following the quake, seventy-seven out of almost 2,900 aftershocks monitored by Philvocs were felt. The structural integrity of houses, buildings, including heritage churches still left standing by the quake are already severely compromised, sink holes began appearing as a result.

Last November 8, Super Typhoon Haiyan came blowing in from the eastern seaboard bringing winds howling at 235 kmh (147 mph), waves were reported to reach 15 meters (45 ft) and brought in 400mm (15.75 inches) of rain in some places.  This early, the death toll is expected to exceed 10,000 and for those that survive the devastation, there is little food, no electricity or clean water. Clean clothes and other provisions necessary for survival are scarce.

As we switch on Oplan Sagip Bayan, we are sending out an appeal to all our friends and allies, like you, in the hope that we can gather both food and non-food support intended for the Haiyan victims, specifically for Northern Cebu and three towns in Leyte or around 5,000 families.

 

Our ability to respond to this crisis hinges on how fast we can muster the needed support for the victims such as:

o       standard food relief packages for a family of six for three days consisting of the following items approximately worth Php 1000 (USD 25 ) :

6 kilos of rice                 ½ kilo of washed sugar
½ kilo of dried fish            ½ kilo of mongo beans
¼ kilo of iodized salt          3 canned of sardines

o       non-food items such as mosquito nets, sleeping mats, blankets, flashlights or paraffin lamps, rubber boots, drinking water, used clothes, etc.

o       medicines such as Paracetamol tablets and syrups, antibiotics, anti-allergies, cough and colds, water purification tablets, medical supplies for first aid such as alcohol, sterile gauze, plaster, Betadine antiseptic solution, etc.

o       Equipment for use of the Emergency Operation Centers such as radio transceivers, warehouses, vehicles, fax machine, photocopiers, cellular phones, generators etc.

 

You can also send your in-kind donations to this address:

•       Metro Manila: # 22 Domingo Guevarra St. Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City 1550

You can send your donations through the women sector account:

 

Account Name: Pagkakaisa ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan Inc. (KAISA KA)

Account Number: 106930026351

SWIFT Code: BDO-BNORPHMM

Routing No.:  021-000089

Name of the Bank:  BDO-Mandaluyong Libertad Branch

Address of the Bank Branch:  G/F Sierra Heights Place Domingo Guevarra corner Sierra Madre Streets,Mandaluyong City, Philippines, 1550

 

Help us help the Haiyan victims, now. For more information please call our office number 717-3262 or visit us at #22-A, Libertad St., Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City and look for Mr. Fidel Fababier or Marie Guzman.

 

We will acknowledge all sponsors/donors and shall provide a concise report on the same.  Thank you in advance for yoursupport.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Fidel Fababier
National Coordinator, Oplan Sagip Bayan

+639461115073 (Mobile)

kpdpilipinas@gmail.com

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[Blog] A storm is a product of nature. A tragedy is man-made. By CJ Chanco

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A storm is a product of nature. A tragedy is man-made.

Suggestions by some quarters to crack down on “looters” are completely out of place. We need the military to deliver aid, not clamp down on the typhoon victims. We need paratroopers to fly in relief goods – not a police state.

CJ Chanco

Again, it isn’t looting if local sari-sari stores are giving away fresh vegetables to desperately hungry families because it’s pointless to sell anything when there’s nothing to buy, and money is practically worthless on the ground. I’ve heard this happen time and again. I’m sure there is more in Tacloban than complete desolation, Red Cross-stealing hooligans, and survival-of-the-fittest. While we in Manila consider ourselves their heroes, people are already acting on their own accord to piece together the fragments of their lives — for the most part, without the government’s aid.

This is the sort of resilience the media should be focusing on. Whatever happened, after all, to the much-vaunted “Filipino spirit”?

On the other hand, what some see as anarchy others see as survival. Crime and “hooliganism” – where they occur (which happens to be few and far between, despite PNP press statements) – are completely natural responses to human scarcity.

This does not in any way distract from the gravity of the situation. Because it *is* disturbing. This is the sort of thing we will increasingly see from communities neglected by the government for so long (with or without these disasters), if we choose to continue along this path.

Indeed, it can happen in Manila and New York and Paris just as easily as it is now happening in Tacloban. It’s the sort of Hunger Games-Planet Z-do-or-die epic we will increasingly see as governments everywhere clamp down ever harder on people already stripped of all the essentials of life.

Crises like these won’t be solved by replacing civilian officials in the province of Imelda Marcos – or anywhere else – with a military force to “control” the situation there. They won’t be solved by sending 500-men military battalions to crush “unrest” and further disempower local communities.

On this score, Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, there is a world of a difference between declaring a state of emergency and declaring martial law
(http://www.rappler.com/nation/43363-tacloban-wants-state-of-emergency-martial-law-in-city).

Peace and order will be restored only when people rebuild their own lives and above all start to question why all of this is being allowed to happen in the first place. There is politics involved in all this whether we like it or not. The very causes of the disaster – from climate change to corruption and poor preparation – have deep political roots.

Haiyan made landfall just as the Warsaw UN Climate Summit was about to begin. If there ever was a sign from god, this is it.

But Western governments’ statements of solidarity with the Philippines are a bit laughable considering their shameful role in stifling all attempts at cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions in the ongoing negotiations:

http://www.theguardian.com/&#8230;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-henn/super-typhoon-haiyan-is-a_b_4239206.html
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/ippc-pachauri-climate-change-spoilt-defiled-planet

Of course, any sort of “aid”, from any government, granted with no strings attached, is more than welcome at a time like this. But no amount of charity or “aid” is every going to make up for these countries’ investments on our own shores that are wreaking havoc on the environment. No amount of “aid” is ever going to cut the greenhouse emissions of the world’s multinationals and the fossil fuel industry (including our own coal-fired plants) that are rising by the day. Last minute pork barrel-infusions won’t help either, for so long as the system stays in place: a system eating away at the very heart of the planet while leaving millions vulnerable to future calamities like this one.

Our inaction today is what generations ahead will pay for in existential debt, plus interest.

Real solidarity with the people of Leyte, Samar, and the rest of the country cannot and will not stop at donating and packing relief goods. Joining people as they organize and mobilize *around the world* to move toward a genuinely sustainable and socially just future – yes, it’s a cliche – should be part of our efforts. It’s time to connect the dots.

Haiyan is a symptom of a problem rooted in a society that is swallowing itself alive on a global scale. It is not the result of an impending rapture, a media cover-up, or a US military experiment. These are the facts. It’s time to wake up.

There are also other ways of delivering aid to flood victims without depending on largesse from Malacanang or Pnoy’s PDAF, or on charity from big relief agencies, from crowd-sourced funding online to grassroots community networks. At any rate, Oxfam, the Red Cross, Unicef, Balsa, the small churches and people’s organizations we’re now helping out – and yes, guerillas in the countryside (whatever their politics) – are doing a far better job at it than our own government.

There are already deep rifts within the Pnoy administration. The disaster has caught everyone off guard: http://www.rappler.com/&#8230;

We really do need all the help we can get, and we can’t depend on the government alone for it. Please remember how long it took for its agencies to get its act together to help the victims of Typhoon Pablo — a much smaller storm.

This is my last uber-long post for the day/month- I promise. The longer we spend on the social networks, I think, the less is done on the ground.

#ReliefPH: Victims of Typhoon Yolanda need your help

http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/43300-reliefph-victims-typhoon-yolanda-help

#YolandaPH #ClimateJustice

https://www.facebook.com/cjchanco/posts/10153466740785514

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[Photoblog] Magtulungan tayong harapin ang pinsalang iniwan ni #Yolanda, manalangin at kumilos

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The following photos are compiled and posted by Bro. Martin Francisco in his facebook account.

“…lahat ng pics dito (his FB) e mula ito sa ibat-ibang sources na hindi ko nagawang alamin dahil sa kagustuhang mas maipaabot agad sa marami ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayang napinsala. We have to thank yung maraming unknown owner ng mga pics na ito.” -Bro. Martin Francisco.

Ilalathala po natin ang mga larawan sa layuning makatulong sa pagpapaabot ng impormasyon ng kalagayan ng ating mga kababayang sinalanta ng supertyphoon #Yolanda sa ating mga mambabasa.  Hindi po inaari ng HRonlinePH.com at maging ni Bro. Martin Francisco ang mga larawang ito.  Maraming salamat sa mga “unknown sources/owners”.

Maari ring matagpuan ang iba pang larawan sa FB ni Bro. Martin Francisco https://www.facebook.com/bromartin.francisco

Magtulungan tayong harapin ang Yolanda with prayer

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[Press Release] Victims of fish kill in Leyte anxious to lose rights in Lake Bito -ATM

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Outcry for livelihood:
Victims of fish kill in Leyte anxious to lose rights in Lake Bito

MACARTHUR, LEYTE – Fishermen in Lake Bito who had barely recovered from the fish kills last April and May are yet again to lose their sole source of livelihood after their meeting with Mayor Rene Leria and officials from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Leyte last Sept. 25. The meeting was held in the community chapel.

According to the officers of Unahin Lagi ang Diyos – Bito Lake Fisher folks Association (UNLAD-BLFA), the mayor told them that they may no longer be allowed to install fish cages in the lake unless they will disassociate themselves in UNLAD and join in the organization recognized by his office.

“Sobrang panggigipit naman ito sa amin,” (This is pure harassment) said Jesus Cabias, president of UNLAD-BLFA.

“Ang gusto lang namin ay ang makapaghanap-buhay ng marangal. Dahil ba nakikipaglaban kami sa mining dito sa aming lugar ay nawalan na rin kami ng karapatan na makapangisda sa lawa? Matagal na kaming nangingisda diyan sa lawa” he added. (What we only want is decent means livelihood. Is it because we are fighting against mining in our community, then we lose our rights to fish in the lake? We’ve been fishing here for so long).

UNLAD also reported that a DOLE staff even said that what are left for them are the barges and patches of soil from the mining operation in Brgy. Villa Imelda.

“We denounce this harassment to the fishermen of Lake Bito. We are calling on Mayor Leria to be fair on this decision. What are the grounds that UNLAD members all of sudden become ineligible to fish in the area considering that these fishermen are the ones fighting for the protection of the lake?” asked Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM).

“He actually needs to act faster on how the NICUA mining company will pay for the damages it caused during the fish kill,” Garganera added.

Provincial Office of BFAR will be granting floating cages to about 50 fishermen but they will have to clear all the current cages in the Lake. In a phone interview with Jose Ciervo, provincial fisheries officer, claimed that the victims of the fish kill are actually the priority beneficiary of the project.

Alyansa Tigil Mina is an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations who are opposing the aggressive promotion of large-scale mining in the Philippines. The alliance is currently pushing for a moratorium on mining, revocation of Executive Order 270-A, repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and passage of the AMMB. (30)

Contact details:
Mr. Jesus Cabias, UNLAD Bito Lake Fisherfolks Association President – 0912.433.7768
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator – 09277617602
Edel S. Garingan – ATM media and communication officer, 09228918972

ATM Press Release
Sept. 27, 2012

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[In the news] Why would the Army abduct Jonas Burgos? -RAPPLER.com

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Why would the Army abduct Jonas Burgos?.

BY GLENDA M. GLORIA, RAPPLER.com
April 28, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Sometime in 2006, an Army battalion in the northern province of Bulacan was alerted about communist infiltration in its ranks. A young lieutenant was supposedly feeding guerrillas sensitive intelligence data from the military.

The Army then plotted to spy on its own. After a few meetings in Fort Bonifacio, headquarters of the Philippine Army, and with the help of the secretive Intelligence Service Group (ISG), key field and intelligence officers ordered a tight surveillance on 2nd Lt Dick Abletes, a fresh recruit from Leyte who was then 28 years old.

Abletes’s commander at that time, Col Melquiades Feliciano, led the quiet probe on the young lieutenant.

At one point, Feliciano said, Abletes was “seen face to face talking to unidentified members, suspected members of the CPP/NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army), and he was actually overheard saying things against the organization [military] and in fact giving classified documents.”

Army agents caught Abletes “transmitting information, vital information to the CPP/NPA.” His back and forth with the NPA dragged for months.

On March 23, 2007, ISG agents were able to monitor Abletes’s meeting with NPA rebels and a “Melissa Concepcion Reyes” in Bulacan.

In that meeting, Abletes was supposed to have supplied them the military’s “top secret” Working Order of Battle, a list of guerrillas that intelligence and operational units are tasked to “neutralize.”

That was it for the Army. Three days later, agents went for the kill and arrested Abletes.

During a military pretrial probe on Abletes, the Army presented as proof of his ties with the NPA a video recording of that March 23 meeting.

Abletes apparently continued his contacts with the NPA while he was held in the ISG jail, as part of the Army’s strategy to lay out a trap for his underground contacts. In text messages, Abletes would tell his guerrilla-friends that he had been sent on schooling thus his absence.

Read full article @ www.rappler.com

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[In the news] P128-M disbursed for state anti-poverty program beneficiaries – www.sunstar.com.ph

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P128-M disbursed for state anti-poverty program beneficiaries
http://www.sunstar.com.ph

TACLOBAN CITY – Over P128 million in conditional cash grant was disbursed to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Leyte for January to December 2010.

At least P7 million have already been released to indigent families in the province for the period of January-April 2011.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

In the recent 4Ps provincial committee meeting attended by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-8) Regional Director Letecia Diokno and Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, the Leyte 4Ps team reported the status of releases for the conditional cash grant in Leyte.

The province tallies a total of 66, 692 registered beneficiaries from various municipalities.

The recent meeting also discussed updates on the implementation of the program and the improved database system for 4Ps by the regional social welfare office.

The DSWD reports over 8,000 beneficiaries have been de-listed from about 168,000 families identified under the program.

Read full article @ www.sunstar.com.ph

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