PHILIPPINES – In some of the barangays (villages) in the municipalities on the three islands World Renew is working in the Philippines, it will be months still before electricity will be restored. The damage that typhoon Yolanda inflicted was not limited to just individual homes but also affected many businesses and infrastructure. While the government had hoped to get some hydro back before Christmas, sadly this is not possible without external assistance. In speaking to the mayors of Estancia and Tacloban, they shared with me that their annual budgets have already been greatly reduced or depleted and they cannot afford to restore some of the essential services for their people.
While the government had hoped to get some hydro back before Christmas, sadly this is not possible without external assistance. In speaking to the mayors of Estancia and Tacloban, they shared with me that their annual budgets have already been greatly reduced or depleted and they cannot afford to restore some of the essential services for their people.
World Renew was able to help. Our field staff, with the assistance of volunteers from the Christian Reformed Church of the Philippines; were able to deliver light to communities with the distribution of 23 generators to date.
Just before Christmas, we were blessed to be able to deliver four generators to the four divisions (“paroks”) within Barangay #89 in Tacloban, just in time to provide some light to 1,400 households for Christmas. One woman was cleaning the plug of a string of Christmas lights that had been installed prior to the typhoon which “sort of” survived. Only one bulb remained intact but it seemed symbolic of the spark of hope remaining in this community. Christmas can still be celebrated, even in a small ways! Not only can we bring physical light, but we can share in the joy of Christmas with our Christian brothers and sisters in the Philippines, attesting to the spiritual light that came so many years ago when Jesus was born into the world.
John 12:46 – I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
More recently, 7 more generators were installed January the 8th in the Barangay of Pa-On, Estancia, on the island of Panay, serving 773 more households; one to the barangay hall as well as one to each of the 6 paroks. It will be months before power is restored and the generator will provide some lighting. In each location we also provided a chain and lock to secure the generator and a power bar to allow them to recharge their flash lights and cell phones. Communication with family and friends is very important to let them know that they are okay.
Psalm 56:13 – For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
"All of the affected people I meet have such faith that it uplifts me. Even though they have lost everything, I hear so many of them praising God that they are alive."
Prior to delivery, we ask people to form committees of three women and three men to plan for the regulation, use and care of each generator. This includes the choosing of fair and optimal locations for the best use of these to affect the broader or whole community. They need to plan for the maintenance of the machines and a plan to recoup refueling costs.
All are self-sustaining as they collect a small fee to help buy fuel. As it takes time to establish generator committees, it took to the week of January 5th to 10th to deliver four more generators in the municipality of Dulag. This is below Tacloban on the island of Leyte, specifically in 4 smaller Barangays: Bulod, Calubian, Dacay, and San Isidro, serving 497 households.
One of the committee members in one community was their electrician. In that particular barangay, they decided the unit should be installed in what was left of their child care building. They were in awe when the generator was lifted out of its shipping container. After adding gas and oil, installing the power block and explaining how to start their new generator, the cord was pulled. There was cheering and clapping and great rejoicing when it started on the first pull!
Here is a very creative use of that generator in Dulag. They were able to set up homemade lights to provide street lights which function for security. Now they feel safe once night falls, as there had been some raids in Dulag after dark.
Exodus 13:21 – By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
Coordination is also very important and was done with the Department of Social Welfare and Development as well as with the mayors of the municipalities. As they requested, we created Memorandums of Agreement with the Local Government Units, (LGUs) to help govern the use of and safety of the generators. In Guiuan, the committees are being finalized for 3 barangays, Barangay #6, Dalaragon, and Cantahay to receive 8 generators which will serve approximately 800 more households. As I am on my way back to the Philippines January 16th to 30th, I look forward to seeing the effect of the final generators for myself. I will write another blog while I am there.
All of the affected people I meet have such faith that it uplifts me. Even though they have lost everything, I hear so many of
them praising God that they are alive.
They really live David’s words in Psalm 27:1 –The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? I pray that God will bless them richly as in Psalm 89:15, Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
Please consider sharing your light by supporting World Renew in its responses. The next phases will include fishing boats to restore livelihoods for the coastal barangays, farming inputs for rice paddies for the inland barangays along with some recapitalization of small businesses. We continue with psychosocial support and are looking at restocking of school supplies. The future will also include shelter and disaster risk reduction activities.
Isaiah 58:10 – and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Blessings,
Grace Wiebe
Senior Project Manager
World Renew International Disaster Response
