PBCI ORGANIZES FOR IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM DISASTER RESPONSE IN NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

We are raising funds for the families and communities affected by Typhoon Ulysses that caused floods and destruction of homes among thousands of families here in the Philippines. PBCI will focus on Northern Luzon, specifically Tuguegarao City and the heavily flooded Cagayan Valley. As of Saturday, 14 November 2020, the Tuguegarao Command Center reported that the whole city was submerged underwater, affecting 30,332 families, submerging the home of 28,676 families, with only 536 evacuated into LGU evacuation centers.

Typhoon “Vamco” (locally called Ulysses) has left a total of 73 fatalities,13 others missing, and more than 1.7 million affected after lashing the Philippines, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) update released on Sunday, November 15, 2020. A state of calamity has been declared in the Cagayan Valley as the province has been submerged in its worst flooding in history.​ Photos by Kodao Productions

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the number of deaths due to the recent onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses has increased to 73 as of Tuesday, 17 November 2020.

This particular PBCI-CFP response will be dubbed as Cagayan Valley PAR Field Operations. Ms. Malou Alngag, a member of the PBCI Board of Trustees who is based in Tabuk City, Province of Kalinga, will be the overall leader in this operations. Ms. Wanay Baluyan, a graduate of PeaceBuilders School of Leadership, will manage the ‘command center’ and will be assisted by her sister, Ms. Geraldine Baluyan, the Assistant Principal at the University of Cagayan Valley — Senior High School.

“The Kalinga Peace and Reconciliation (PAR) Community is cooperating with the relief operations of several municipalities of our province,” said Malou Alngag in a telephone conversation a few hours prior to this writing. “In fact, I’m with a team carrying truckloads of relief goods to one of the most vulnerable communities we have identified,” she added.

Wanay Baluyan continues to prepare an operations system in accordance with PBCI disaster response protocol. “I already have a team who are doing ground work identifying a remote Indigenous community who are allegedly being neglected in the current relief distribution efforts,” reports Wanay. “But we have to verify that,” she adds.

“We are safe, cleaning the thick mud brought in by the flood,” Geraldine Baluyan replied when asked how they are doing as survivors of the flood in Tuguegarao City during our phone conversation with her. “And yes,” she continued, “we are ready and are standing by as PAR field volunteers in Cagayan Valley.”

So, we’re set. Let’s act as the Spirit prompts us.

PLEASE DONATE TO:

Account Name: PEACEBUILDERS COMMUNITY, INC.
Checking Account Number: 547-7-547-00228-4
Bank Transit: 03026-0166
International Swift Code: MBTCPHMM
Bank Name: Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company


Leadership Responsibilities for Disaster Response in Cagayan Valley

MALOU ALNGAG | malou@peacebuilderscommunity.org

Objective: To lead a disaster response operation for the people of Cagayan Valley impacted by Typhoon Ulysses as available resources allow, and following the general principles of PBCI protocol in disaster response 

Responsibilities:

  • Provide overall leadership to the PBCI disaster response operations in Cagayan Valley from the start to the end;
  • Represent PBCI in courtesy calls and official coordination in Kalinga Province and Cagayan Valley;
  • Connect with people and/or organizations that can provide food, clothing and other donated goods;
  • In coordination with Wanay Baluyan, create a PAR Volunteer Team as outlined in the PAR Manual, Book 3

WANAY BALUYAN | wanay@peacebuilderscommunity.org

Objective: To implement a relief operation for the people of Cagayan Valley impacted by Typhoon Ulysses as available resources allow, and following the general principles of PBCI protocol in disaster response 

Responsibilities:

  • Provide leadership in field operations from the start to the end;
  • Connect with PBCI Board Member Bennette Tenecio Mañulit for guidance in planning and implementing disaster response during COVID;
  • In coordination with Marilou Alngag, create a PAR Volunteer Team as outlined in the PAR Manual, Book 3. 

Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2020/11/20/pbci-organizes-for-immediate-and-long-term-disaster-response-in-northern-philippines/

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