Rapid Response Payment No. 22/2006

Funds Sent To: National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)

Amount Sent: US$ 50,000

Date: 6 December 2006

Details of Payment

Emergency: Typhoon Durian

Date of Emergency: 28 - 30 November 2006

Implementing Partner: For the municipalities in Albay Province, the assistance will be distributed through the NCCP ANDUROG MAYON. The operations centre is based in Legazpi City. For other regions, distribution will be carried out by the NCCP member churches and other ecumenical partners who are present in the affected areas.

Details of the Emergency: On 28/29 November 2006, Super Typhoon Durian lashed the Philippines with sustained winds of 190 km per hour and gusts of up to 225 kph. The death toll is likely to exceed 1,000 with many of the casualties in the severely affected barangays in Albay Province, which were crushed by boulders and mud loosened from the slopes of Mayon Volcano by the heavy rains. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared a state of emergency and ordered the extension of the search and retrieval operations for 10 days in Legazpi City, Daraga and Guinobatan.

Three regions were severely affected: IV-A(CALABARZON), IV-B (MIMAROPA) and V (Bicol). The Bicol region (Region V) suffered the most destruction and the highest number of casualties. Power is still down and according to local authorities, it will take more than six months to restore power in the whole province. There is a serious gasoline shortage and communication is still a problem.

To date, the typhoon and the mudslides destroyed or damaged at least 250,000 houses and affected 1.54 million people, with around 83,000 people now housed in evacuation centres. Initially, the damage to agriculture, infrastructure and agriculture is placed at P1.2 billion.

Proposed Assistance:

The assistance will be provided to around 4,800 families in the three severely affected regions- Regions IV-A, IV-B and V. In region V, these include the municipalities of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Tabaco in the Province of Albay, Legazpi City and Naga City. In Region IV-A, these include the municipalities of Batangas and Quezon. In Region IV-B, these include the municipality of Mindoro.

Most of the targeted beneficiaries are poor farmers who were also affected by the Mayon Volcano eruption in August and typhoon Milenyo (Xangsane) in October.

Volunteers of NCCP Andurog Mayon have joined rescue operations and are, at the same time, conducting damage assessments for further relief operations. Donations received in the national office as well as the stockpiles from its warehouse will be sent immediately to NCCP Andurog Mayon for distribution to evacuation centers.

Initially, the NCCP Andurog Mayon will distribute food, clothing, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, blankets and candles to 500 families in Albay Province within the first week.

The proposed assistance consists of distribution of 4,000 relief bags, each bag containing 8 kilos of rice, 3 items of canned goods, ½ kilo of sugar, ½ kilo of mung beans, ½ kilo of dried fish, 1 litre of cooking oil and ¼ kilo of salt. Another 400 families will be provided with light blankets, mosquito nets and sleeping mats. Another 200 families will be provided with water container and kitchen utensils and wares. Hygiene kits containing 1 bar of laundry soap, 1 bath soap, toothpaste, toothbrush and face towel will also be provided. Canvass tents which can be used as temporary shelter will also be provided to 200 families particularly those whose houses were completely destroyed. Medicines will also be made available. Other items such as candles and flashlights will also be provided for those who need such items.

Implementation will be for a period of two months. As soon as damage assessments have been completed, an appeal will be prepared which will then include rehabilitation assistance.

BUDGET

TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE: US$ 50,149

(FOR THE BUDGET DETAILS, KINDLY VISIT THE ACT SITE. THANK YOU.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US 50,000 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund. This payment will be considered as an advance to a forthcoming appeal.

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ACT is a global alliance of Churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

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