10 January 2016–Typhoon Nina (International Name: Nock-Ten) hit Bicol, Philippines on Christmas Day in December 2016. At its peak, the storm had sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph. It affected up to 1.7 million people in Bicol Region. It wreaked havoc in 613 barangays, almost half of which (233) are communities in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur, according to the Social Welfare Department (DSWD) Region 5 office.
Among the 184 barangays in Bicol where Educo Philippines’s operates, 58 barangays were devastated by Typhoon Nina. There are over 12,000 families in these areas composed of 60,554 people, 24,221 of whom are children.
Educo relief operations in La Purisima, Nabua, Camarines Sur held 6 January 2016.
Educo is a global NGO that defends children’s rights particularly to education. Committed to protecting children even in times of disasters, Educo Philippines conducted a response initiative for its areas that were worst hit. Households identified by barangay councils to be totally damaged were prioritized.
Four million pesos (PHP 4M) worth of relief goods is being distributed to over 8,478 families in municipalities of Libon, Oas, and Polagui in Albay; and, Bato and Nabua in Camarines Sur. As of writing, Educo relief operations are 90% completed. Educo provided 40% of the needed relief in its areas to augment DSWD’s provision which is at 30% of the local community’s needs. The local government attends to the remaining relief goods needs of its community.
“We are very much thankful to Educo,” says Principal Lilia Sedeno of Nabua West Central Elementary School. Nabua West is a public elementary school with a population of 1,722 pupils and 47 faculty staff. From the usual handful of volunteers, up to 200 parents and children showed upin at school after Nina to help in the cleanup drive also called ‘Brigada Eskwela Plus.’
Brigada Eskwela volunteers increased after #NinaPH through Educo support.
“Dati kaunti ang pumupunta kapag nagpapatawag para sa Brigada Eskwela. Ngayon, dahil nalaman nilang may ibibigay, napakadami pong pumunta.” Before, very few show up when we call for School Brigade cleanup. Now that they knew relief goods are also being given [to Brigade volunteers,] so many people came.
Educo Philippines allotted relief goods specifically for ‘Brigada Eskwela Plus’ volunteers. Because of this particular support to education, cleanup is hastened in local schools in Bicol. It was meant to avoid class disruption because classes were only days away from resuming. Clearing out and cleaning up opens up safe, alternative spaces on school grounds for children to temporarily continue their schooling while classrooms are being restored or built back better. The Department of Education (DepEd) also has a ‘Temporary Learning System’ support in place specifically to help schools start classes immediately after disasters.
Currently, Educo is already working on a more comprehensive early recovery program with the Departments of Education and Social Welfare to help the over 1,200 schools damaged by Typhoon Nina.#
