IN RESPONSE to the heavy impact of Typhoon Lando in Casiguran, Aurora last October 18, the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), a non-partisan organization of the Jesuits, launched Task Force Noah to assist the affected residents of the town’s various barangays, namely the indigenous peoples’ communities, farmers, and fisherfolk.

In a CNN Philippines report, Lando was, “by far the most devastating typhoon to hit the country this year,” according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The latest NDRRMC update released October 29 reported 48 casualties across 6 regions in Luzon with agriculture and infrastructure damages amounting to almost PHP 11 billion.

Six students from the Loyola Schools, three SLB staff, and a faculty member were deployed to the area on October 22-24. The first and second days were spent assessing the communities while the third day was for distributing 900 relief goods delivered by the military.

According to Armida Reyes, SLB media coordinator, the infrastructure in the communities they surveyed were “almost 100% damaged.”

“The most affected sector is the farmers whose farmlands were damaged 100%. As for the IPs [indigenous peoples] they made temporary shelters but their multipurpose halls and schools were all destroyed,” Reyes said.

“Relief goods and medical missions have already been given to almost the entire community,” she said. “As of now, the rehabilitation phase should be the focus of those who want to help especially for the agriculture and infrastructures.”

Surveying the area

The Atenean students who joined SLB in their efforts to survey the affected areas spoke with the residents and asked about their conditions and experiences after the typhoon.

Darla Lira, a political science senior, observed the limited reach of disaster preparedness across all barangays due to inefficient transportation and communication systems.

She cited one encounter with some of the residents who claimed they were informed about the incoming typhoon, but one barangay was not aware and had underestimated its impact.

“They were caught off-guard because it was earlier than expected,” shared Jerson Amada, a diplomacy and international relations senior in a mix of English and Tagalog.

He described how all of the electricity lines fell and were lying on the road, as well as recalled what remained of the barangay city hall and some of the schools. The destruction of the infrastructures in the area, Armada commented, was reflective of either poor construction or the strength of the typhoon’s impact.

“Usually kasi Baler yung unang natatamaan so noong tumama na sa Casiguran, it was already too late (Baler usually gets hit first so when the typhoon came to Casiguran, it was already too late),” added Duncan Vinluan, a development studies and legal management junior.

Moving forward

Vinluan highlighted that one of the main effects of Typhoon Lando was the disruption of the residents’ livelihood. The people of Casiguran, he pointed out, rely on coconut, banana, and kamote production. As an example, he described how farmers would have to wait a few more years before they could plant again when coconut trees are swept away by strong winds,

“The plantations are their livelihood,” echoed Lira. “Without them, they have no form of production, no food to eat.”

The method of relief distribution was also a concern for the students. Lira said that the “reoccurring problem” among the residents she encountered was that they all received the same amount of relief goods, although some were more in need or affected compared to others.

Lira also observed how the indigenous peoples’ communities, who live in the fringes of Aurora, were among those who were informed last about the typhoon. They also lacked places to evacuate to because of where they reside.

But in spite of the difficulties during and after the typhoon, the students all observed the resiliency and optimism of the residents.

“Hindi sila pumapayag magmukhang kawawa (They don’t let themselves be pitied),” shared Lira. “They tried to do whatever they can.”

APECO damaged

Long a source of contention for the people of Casiguran, the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (APECO) was not spared from Lando’s wrath, sustaining heavy damages from the typhoon.

Among the arguments posed by APECO’s opponents was Casiguran’s location as a typhoon hotspot. In 2013, Casiguran, including APECO, was also devastated by Typhoon Labuyo.

“The vulnerability of the APECO projects to typhoons is not surprising as no feasibility studies have ever been conducted before and after the creation of the ecozone,” Task Force Anti-APECO said in a press release.

However, Armada noticed that the typhoon allowed for the two opposing groups to put their differences aside.

“It was a collaborative effort of rehabilitation,” he said, “Wala munang laban laban with APECO (A stop to the fights for now with APECO).”