Between 14 November and 02 December, 2004, four consecutive storms hit the area of central Quezon in the Philippines destroying valuable infrastructure such as roads, communication lines, and houses in various communities.
Thousands of families were made homeless and have been living in temporary settlements. Oxfam GB's immediate response to this natural disaster was to provide water and sanitation.
Since 15 December, 2004 our emergency response efforts have been concentrated in Infanta and General Nakar, two of the most affected areas in Quezon. We have developed our programme further to focus on three main areas: public health, cash-for-work, and shelter assistance.
Public Health
Our programme aims to decrease the chances of water and sanitation related disease in the targeted communities through the installation of water supply systems and latrines, distribution of hygiene with basic necessities such as bath and laundry soap, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins, jerry cans, etc., to address public health concerns.
Oxfam GB has also been regularly testing and monitoring water sources to guard against water contamination. Where contaminated water was identified, we worked to improve the quality of water.
We also worked with communities and the local government to clean and clear village roads, dispose of debris and dead animals, and rehabilitate community facilities such as daycare centers.
Our efforts continue to focus on public health promotion and engage in capacity building initiatives for health workers.
Cash-for-Work
As businesses, traders and market vendors return to work, our programme aims to strengthen peoples ability to buy essential items through cash-for-work (CFW) activities. This is an important aspect of our programme because although food availability has improved, peoples' buying capacity is still limited and they continue to rely on food assistance. Over the next few months, food assistance will decline, but the CFW project will give people the opportunity to earn cash to purchase food and other essential items.
The CFW project also aims to prevent indebtedness or risky coping strategies rehabilitate community assets and respond to communities' felt needs help revive the local economy
Shelter Assistance
Our program aims to provide a shelter package, with roofing, siding and flooring materials and other tools, to families who have no means to rebuild their homes.
Incomplete geological surveys, ongoing site assessments, and expressed resistance from some affected communities to be relocated or resettled have presented challenges to addressing this issue immediately. We are collaborating with communities, NGOs, and the local government to finalise a clear implementation plan for delivering shelter assistance as soon as possible.
In addition to shelter materials, Oxfam will provide technical support to families rebuilding their homes. Communities provide labour as their counterpart.
Oxfam GB continues to coordinate with the local authorities, NGOs, public officers and other institutions . While progress is being made and projects are developing, there are a few key challenges we face as the programme moves forward:
Persistent rains have worsened road and path conditions significantly slowing down the transportation and delivery of aid materials to the affected areas.
There is now an urgent need for government to prioritize the clearing of roads, paths and other public infrastructures to improve the efficiency of our emergency response
It is important to mobilize communities to help manage diverse activities such as maintaining public health activities while labour and food opportunities are expanding.
Existing efforts on proper collaboration, communication and coordination between all actors, including local communities, the government, and NGOs, need to be reinforced.