November 27, 2024
More than 4,000 families receive typhoon relief in Cagayan
By Dorothy Castro
For the Cagayan Valley region, November was marked by a series of typhoons: Marce (Yinxing), making the most significant damage to communities in this area, immediately followed by Nika (Toraji), Ofel (Usagi), and Pepito (Man-Yi), which brought heavy flooding to 854 barangays (towns), affecting more than 58,000 families.
This left the province of Cagayan with damages amounting to about P1.4 billion, according to the Philippine News Agency.
Concerned by the effects of these typhoons on the communities, Tzu Chi volunteers set off for an 18-hour land trip from Manila to Cagayan on November 19. They conducted a series of ocular inspections and relief operations in the following days.
Among the two most devastated areas are Sta. Ana and Aparri. Both still under flood water, the towns posed a challenge to Tzu Chi volunteers, who pressed on despite the difficulty in reaching these places.
In the town of Bisagu, Tzu Chi volunteers met fisherman Ray PJ Aliguia, who tried to keep working after losing his home. Among many thriving livelihoods in Cagayan, the agriculture and fisheries sectors were badly hit.
“This typhoon was the only thing that made me end up in tears,” said Aliguia, a father of two. He could only look on as his house, stripped of its walls, and all their belongings were submerged in a muddy flood.
“But the Lord is merciful,” he smiled. While these trials deeply affected his family, “We will get back up,” he promised.
Nena Rapul shared the same sentiment. “It felt like I was dying,” she said in anguish. Along with relatives, she eventually had to seek shelter at a nearby church. Losing food, home, and their belongings were some of the struggles she and her grandchildren suffered.
Hearing the challenges of each family at Sta. Ana and Aparri, Tzu Chi volunteers conducted relief distributions on November 22 and 23, providing essential items such as 20 kilograms of rice, rain boots, slippers, blankets, condensed milk, and sack bags.
More than 4,000 families received these relief goods across six barangays in Sta. Ana, and seven barangays in Aparri.
Tzu Chi volunteers were joined by volunteers in Tuguegarao and local volunteers in Aparri. Dr. Raul Ting, a medical practitioner and humanitarian volunteer based in Tuguegarao, has known Tzu Chi for decades, and was glad to travel with volunteers to help his fellow Cagayanos.
“We try to help in our own little way, but with Tzu Chi, we develop a different, [greater] scale,” he said.
Tzu Chi also granted the wishes of those who lost their homes to these typhoons. Families with completely damaged homes were each given a Php15,000 voucher to purchase construction materials, giving them a chance to rebuild their homes and hope.
“We would like to thank the Tzu Chi Foundation for the help we’ve received in Aparri. This is a major help for us,” says Hon. Bryan Dale Chan, mayor of Aparri, whom volunteers coordinated with during the ocular visits and relief operations.
Receiving these essential items from Tzu Chi, Aliguia was overcome with emotions. Shedding tears, he recalled his wish to have a home for the holidays.
“I can uplift my family again, so we may have a roof over our heads this Christmas,” he says.
Aerial shot of Sta. Ana, Cagayan, after the onslaught of four consecutive typhoons: Marce (Yinxing), Nika (Toraji), Ofel (Usagi), and Pepito (Man-Yi).
Aerial shot of Aparri, Cagayan, after the onslaught of four consecutive typhoons: Marce (Yinxing), Nika (Toraji), Ofel (Usagi), and Pepito (Man-Yi).
After these typhoons, trees from the mountainous areas of Cagayan were uprooted and swept away by harsh flooding.
Even as communities and roads remain flooded, Tzu Chi volunteers persevered to reach affected areas in Cagayan.
On November 20, Tzu Chi volunteers and staff began their ocular visits to different areas of Aparri to assess the needs of families affected by the typhoon, starting with Bisagu. During their travels, roads remained flooded, and they needed a truck to get to the affected areas.
Many houses were damaged after the typhoon. Harsh winds and flooding went on for hours, collapsing homes and stripping them bare.
Some houses in Cagayan were totally damaged, and belongings left behind were completely destroyed.
Tzu Chi volunteers survey affected barangays in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
The series of typhoons not only left houses damaged, but also affected livelihoods in communities where agriculture and fisheries thrived.
Tzu Chi volunteers survey affected barangays in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
Ray PJ Aliguia, is only one of the many who lost their homes and livelihood to the typhoons. A fisherman earning less than PHP1000 a day, he only wished to have a home for Christmas.
In Bisagu, an elderly couple sit outside their completely damaged house after the typhoon. Despite their loss, they remain hopeful, optimistic, and grateful for their safety.
In Bisagu, some houses remain submerged in flood days after the typhoon.
A Tzu Chi volunteer helps in distributing bread during their visit in Aparri, Cagayan.
A Tzu Chi volunteer helps in distributing bread during their visit in Aparri, Cagayan.
A man smiles as he receives bread from Tzu Chi.
On November 21, Tzu Chi began its stub distributions in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
Beneficiaries are happy to receive their relief distribution stubs in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
Beneficiaries are happy to receive their relief distribution stubs in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
Beneficiaries are happy to receive their relief distribution stubs in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
Beneficiaries raise their relief stubs, grateful for Tzu Chi’s help during this calamity.
In Sta. Ana, Tzu Chi volunteer Benson Lao shares stories about Tzu Chi during the relief distribution.
In Aparri, Tzu Chi Charity Department Head Tina Pasion shares stories about Tzu Chi during the relief distribution.
Volunteers help one another in unloading the relief goods transported from Metro Manila to Cagayan.
Volunteers help one another in unloading the relief goods transported from Metro Manila to Cagayan.
Volunteers help one another in unloading the relief goods transported from Metro Manila to Cagayan.
Tzu Chi volunteers inspect and count the relief goods before the distribution.
Tzu Chi volunteer Johnny Kwok presents a pamphlet, titled “Spreading the seeds of love,” introducing Tzu Chi’s programs in the Philippines.
Tzu Chi volunteers present a touching sign language performance of the song “One Family.”
Beneficiaries pray, grateful for the help they’ve received and that there would be no more disasters moving forward.
Aparri Mayor Hon. Bryan Dale Chan expresses his thanks to Tzu Chi for helping beneficiaries as they recover from the typhoons.
Beneficiaries from the Dufaningan Agta Community in Cagayan receive relief stubs from Tzu Chi.
Beneficiaries receive blankets made from recycled plastics from Tzu Chi volunteers.
Beneficiaries are happy and grateful to receive relief goods from Tzu Chi.
Beneficiaries are happy and grateful to receive relief goods from Tzu Chi.
Beneficiaries are happy and grateful to receive relief goods from Tzu Chi.
Dr. Raul Ting (left), a volunteer from Tuguegarao, helps in distributing medicine during the relief operations.
A beneficiary smiles at a Tzu Chi volunteer.
Apart from essential items, 20 kilograms of rice are also distributed to affected families.
A beneficiary receives 20 kilograms of rice along with blankets, rain boots, clothing, condensed milk, slippers, and sack bags.
Fisherman Ray PJ Aliguia smiles, grateful for the essential goods and voucher for construction materials that will help his family recover from the typhoons.
Beneficiaries say “thank you,” the Tzu Chi way, with their thumbs bowing.
Eddie Castillo (left), chairman of the Dufaningan Agta Community, thanks Tzu Chi for providing 20 kilograms of rice and other essential goods.
Beneficiaries in Aparri head home together, bringing the relief goods they received.
Beneficiaries in Aparri head home together, bringing the relief goods they received.
Tzu Chi volunteers pose for a photo with beneficiaries whose homes were totally damaged after the typhoon. They each received a voucher for construction materials.
The relief operations in Aparri were possible through the joint efforts of Tzu Chi volunteers, staff, volunteers from Aparri and Tuguegarao, and members of the local government in Cagayan.