April 7 2006

Here is an update on the tragedy that occured in the Central Philippines last Feb. 17, 2006.
.... from ACHR friends - the Philippines Homeless Peoples Federation

On February 17, 2006, heavy rains caused a massive mudslide in the central Philippines. Mudslides buried the village of Guinsagon and swamped an elementary school; it is feared that 1,800 have died.

The landslide, which struck without warning, virtually wiped out the village including an elementary school where 246 children and teachers were in class. The area continued to experience frequent heavy downpours, and the threat of further landslides in some areas remained.

As a result, 11 other villages have been evacuated to six different evacuation centers in the town center.

Two weeks after the disaster the members of the Philippines Homeless Peoples Federation coming from the Visayas Region immediately mobilized a team to establish contact with survivors on the site of the tragedy. The federation has been seeking assistance to build temporary houses for the evacuaees who are now occupying the school classrooms in three government schools in Municipality of St. Bernard which have to be vacated for the next school year.

Evacuation center in St. Bernard Central School

The request has been processed with the local communities and the Local Government Unit due to the advice of the Mines and Geologic Science Bureau declaring that parts of eight (8) villages surrounding the mountain as not safe for habitation. Thus, affected families have now been abandoning their homes, schools, farm lots, and other structures and moving into the evacuation centers.

The number of families currently listed for temporary shelter is 935. The number is increasing because some families are still holding on to their homes and farm lots. But seeing that the rainy season will be coming this June 2006 they have sensed the danger of not moving out from their present location.

It has been fortunate for the members of the federation to have been exposed to the tsunami areas and also doing massive relocations in several cities in the country due to major infra projects, that they can offer their learnings to the local government and the affected communities.

Josie (right) from the Philippines Federation in Aceh Jan 2006

Exchanges among the communities and Local Government Units with other cities is planned two weeks from now.

Update from
Fr Norberto Carcella
April 7 2006

Fr N in Aceh Sept 2006

Philippines: Catmon Evacuation Center where USAID plastic is used as mats both of the children and adult. Such classroom can accommodate 20 families.

Temporary shelters provided by the government of Japan. Adults, mostly men, sleep here.

Meet the Philippines Homeless Peolpes Federation on this site
here