Overseas Filipinos raise fund to aid typhoon-struck kababayans

TORONTO – Twelve years since typhoon Yolanda struck, the Philippines still suffer from the same devastating effects of natural calamities worsened by corruption. 

As Filipinos endure the onslaught of typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) and typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-Wong), the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and Kabataan Alliance (KA) US-based progressive groups launched a nationwide Bayanihan Disaster Response campaign today November 9.

NAFCON, an alliance of grassroots organizations, non-profits, health professionals, artists, and educators, and Kabataan Alliance emphasized that these disasters are “man-made – the consequence of pork barrels.” The progressive groups underscored that many of the country’s worst calamities could have been mitigated if public funds for flood control and social services had been properly used instead of lining the pockets of corrupt officials.

As of November 7, data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) show that typhoon Tino) affected about 2.4 million people (680,431 families) across eight regions. Around 302,008 people (83,139 families) are in 2,936 evacuation centers, while 75,325 people (22,184 families) sought temporary shelter with relatives or friends. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed 153 deaths, 135 injuries, and 86 missing persons, mostly in Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, where severe flooding and landslides caused significant damage.

“We look back on our history, when typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) ravaged central Philippines on November 8, 2013, and with what we see now, 12 years later, things have not changed. Each year brings record breaking typhoons, while the government is steeped in the corruption of public funds, meant for services and the livelihood of our kababayan,” Matt Dumanig of Kabataan Alliance said. 

Dumanig added that despite the distance, Filipinos abroad remain deeply connected to their homeland.

“We may be thousands of miles away from our homeland. We may not have seen or visited them in so many years, but our hearts will always be with the people. And as we’ve heard from our partners in the Philippines, the devastation is heavy. And there is much to be done. So, let’s really turn our grief, our anger into action, because every dollar raised, and every effort, every conversation we have, it really counts. And corruption will not stop us from being there for our people.” Dumanig added. 

‘Endless cycle of bureaucrat capitalism’

In Cebu, Cleisteil Cimafranca of Alibyo Cebu Ayuda Network called on the local and national government to provide concrete and immediate recovery and rehabilitation plans for affected communities. Cimafranca criticized token efforts from officials, saying that “providing monetary assistance and ‘visiting’ the affected communities aren’t enough.” According to Cimafranca, the hard-hit communities are the very communities that have been neglected by the state for a very long time. “These communities have no access to basic social services as they have been privatized and now that it is exacerbated by corporate greed, by favoring large reclamation projects, commercial projects over the welfare of the people.” she added.

In Negros, RJ Ledesma of Hakson Inc., an environmental organization based on the island, questioned the billions allegedly spent on flood control projects.

“Where did the billions in flood control projects go? Because in Negros Island alone, two billion has been spent for these various flood controlled projects. And at the height of irony, last July, due to the consistent rains in the island. The areas where there are flood controlled projects were flooded,” Ledesma said. “So it really shows how these flood control projects are being used as mere corruption or to fatten the pockets of bureaucrats.”

He described the situation as “state neglect”, pointing to the broader issues of deforestation, illegal quarrying, and upland sand, gravel extraction contributing to recurring floods.

“It’s an endless cycle of bureaucrat capitalism, where the public office serves private profit,” Ledesma said.

Ledesma said they have been receiving reports that even the distribution of aid is rife with corruption. He showed a photograph where foam mattresses are stacked at the back of the gym. “…[B]ut these are not distributed to the communities who need it most. So it’s just being on display. There’s a lot of corruption, and of course, militarization as well of the evacuation centers. So a lot of communities also fear for their lives because the military is guarding those evacuation areas. With the experience of red-tagging and extrajudicial killings, you can’t blame them for being scared of the military, that is guarding various evacuation areas,” he said. 

Ledesma also cited reports of patronage politics in relief distribution, where families “closer to mayors or barangay captains” are prioritized over others equally affected.

He added that communities in Negros urgently need clean drinking water, canned goods, rice, sleeping mats, baby supplies, and sanitary kits for women. For long-term recovery, he said, boat repair kits for fisherfolk and housing repair kits for families who lost their homes are essential, along with farming tools to help farmers replant and rebuild livelihoods.

Typhoon Uwan 

According to the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) Weather Bulletin No. 18 issued at 10 a.m. Monday, November 11, Typhoon Uwan has further weakened over the West Philippine Sea.

Areas under Wind Signal No. 3 may experience moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds, while those under Signal No. 2 may face minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds. Regions under Signal No. 1 are warned of minimal to minor impacts from strong winds. Even outside the areas under wind signals, Uwan is expected to bring occasionally gusty conditions, particularly over Palawan, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao today; most of Luzon, Iloilo, and Guimaras tomorrow; and Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur by Wednesday.

Weather bureau PAGASA also warned of a high risk of life-threatening storm surges exceeding three meters within the next 12 hours in low-lying coastal areas of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, most of Mimaropa, Aklan, and Antique. A gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of northern and central Luzon and the western seaboards of southern Luzon, with sea conditions ranging from rough to very rough. Waves may reach up to eight meters in the Ilocos Region and Zambales, and smaller vessels are strongly advised not to venture out to sea.

PAGASA noted that Uwan will continue to follow a recurving path, turning northwestward today, northward tomorrow, and northeastward afterward. The typhoon may briefly re-intensify as it moves over the waters southwest of Taiwan before weakening again from Wednesday onward. It is forecast to exit PAR tonight or early Tuesday, possibly re-entering by Wednesday evening as it makes landfall over Taiwan’s southwestern coast. Uwan is expected to weaken into a remnant low near the Ryukyu Islands by Friday.

NAFCON, Kabataan Alliance, and their partner organizations are urging Filipinos in the U.S. to take part in a people-to-people response to natural calamities.

Aside from the US-based initiatives, progressives in Canada have also launched fundraising drives to help Filipinos recover from the typhoons, continuing the long tradition of overseas Filipino solidarity and bayanihan in times of crisis.

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