Nature-based Solutions Strengthen Climate Resilience in Zamboanga City

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ZAMBOANGA CITY ─ Momentum for environmental restoration is rising in Barangay Kasanyangan, where EARTH Champions and community representatives carried out another major mangrove rehabilitation and clean-up effort on November 30, 2025—further strengthening the barangay’s defenses against climate risks. The initiative advances ongoing community-led efforts to restore damaged ecosystems due to the relocated population affected by the Zamboanga Siege back in 2013.

This activity supports Zamboanga City’s Central Mangrove Management Plan, which prioritizes the protection and rehabilitation of coastal areas to enhance climate resilience, enrich biodiversity, and reduce exposure to flooding, storm surges, and tsunamis.

In photo: EARTH champions plant the mangrove propagules in Barangay Kasanyangan, last November 30.

During the event, volunteers planted 1,500 mangrove propagules, helping stabilize the shoreline and improve habitat conditions for marine species.

Kali Halima, Monitoring Officer of Barangay Kasanyangan shared, “each tree we plant and every piece of trash we remove helps build a healthier, more sustainable future.”

In addition to planting, EARTH Champions collected 15 sacks of non-biodegradable waste—52 kilograms in total—from the mangrove roots and intertidal zone.

In photo: EARTH champions collecting waste during the clean-up drive in Barangay Kasanyangan, last November 30.

This clean-up addressed persistent pollution that hinders mangrove growth and disrupts the balance of the coastal ecosystem. The activity demonstrated strong community stewardship and the growing commitment of residents to care for their environment.

“Each tree we plant and every piece of trash we remove helps build a healthier, more sustainable future.”  — Kali Halima

Strengthening waste management through local action

A significant development under the EARTH Project in Zamboanga City is the improved system for waste collection in Kasanyangan and Rio Hondo. Initially, the city’s Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR) supported waste collection during clean-up drives, but as city-wide clean-up operations intensified, regular collection at the EARTH project site became difficult to maintain.

Previously, the community relied on a smaller truck for waste collection. Recognizing this gap, the barangay local government unit of Kasanyangan purchased a solid waste dump truck to ensure consistent waste collection and prevent accumulated debris from returning to rehabilitated areas. It took an additional month to mobilize personnel, including a dedicated truck driver and waste collectors.

Volunteer mobilization has likewise grown significantly. Recent clean-up drives have gathered as many as 304 volunteers, including EARTH Champions, barangay officials, community members, and 4Ps beneficiaries. This expanded participation demonstrates how the EARTH Project has strengthened community ownership of waste management and environmental protection—ensuring that rehabilitation gains are not undermined by unmanaged solid waste. “By working together, we can make a meaningful impact one step at a time,” Kali added.

In photo: The EARTH campions take a group photo before the clean=up drive and mangrove planting.

What are EARTH Champions?

A central focus of the EARTH Project is empowering community members to lead and sustain environmental initiatives. EARTH Champions are residents organized through the Community Savings Groups (CSGs), either established or supported by the project. While CSGs function as savings and resilience mechanisms, they also serve as platforms for environmental advocacy, enabling members to promote nature-based solutions at the barangay level.

Trained in solid waste management and environmental monitoring, the EARTH Champions are mobilizing their neighbors, supporting restoration activities, and championing responsible environmental practices. Throughout the course of the project, these champions will also be trained on mangrove nursery management and water conservation. Their leadership ensures that the project’s outcomes are community-driven, locally owned, and sustained beyond the project cycle.

Participation in the barangay’s mangrove enrichment and clean-up drive continues to expand. The latest effort saw more than 40 new EARTH Champions, alongside returning volunteers and barangay representatives. This growing engagement reflects the strengthening capacity of residents, who are not only contributing to restoration efforts but are also emerging as advocates for long-term environmental protection in their community.

 

Why these efforts matter

Beyond the numbers, these efforts are crucial because mangroves serve as natural barriers that protect coastal communities from storm surges, erosion, and flooding—hazards that are becoming more frequent due to climate change. By planting local mangrove species such as Bakauan Babae (Rhizophora mucronata), Bakauan Lalaki (Rhizophora apiculate) and Bangkauan Bato or Bangkaw (Rhizophora stylosa), volunteers are helping restore a vital ecosystem that supports marine biodiversity, and strengthens community livelihoods.

By removing waste and restoring degraded areas, EARTH Champions and community volunteers are not only protecting their coastline but also ensuring that future generations benefit from a more stable, productive, and climate-resilient environment. These activities show how small, consistent actions can collectively rebuild ecosystems that shield and sustain coastal communities.

In photo: EARTH champions plant the mangrove propagules in Barangay Kasanyangan, last November 30.

About EARTH

The Environmental Actions for Resilience and Transformative Humanitarian Interventions (EARTH) project is a pilot initiative that integrates environmental safeguarding and restoration strategies into humanitarian action in the cities of Zamboanga and Malabon. Implemented by Action Against Hunger, CARE Philippines, and ACCORD, and funded by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, the two-year, community-led project strengthens urban resilience through people-centered, multisectoral, nature-based solutions.

EARTH promotes a nature-based solution model that integrates mangrove reforestation, solid waste management, water conservation, and sustainable livelihoods—reducing environmental risks while restoring vital ecosystems.

Written by: Joyce Sandajan
Contributors: Roberto Saballero, Jr. and Vanessa Matuguina
Edited by: Philipp Danao

When water runs out: Children’s hygiene at risk after Typhoon Tino

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TALISAY CITY, CEBU — Before Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) hit their community on November 3, Karylle, 23, and Sharon, 35, together with more than 90 displaced families, sought refuge in the old public market of Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, Cebu. While this pre-emptive evacuation has kept them safe, they have since been living in tents at the market-turned-evacuation center for a month now after Typhoon Tino destroyed their homes. Now, they are waiting to be relocated to a safer area where they can rebuild their homes.

Karylle and Sharon, both residents of Sitio Tiguib in Barangay Lagtang, have grown close over the years and are practically family. Karylle, a full-time stay-at-home parent, first met Sharon through her partner, who is Sharon’s nephew. Today, their bond is even stronger as both families now share a single tent in the old public market, which has been converted into an evacuation site for displaced households.

For Karylle, this is her first time experiencing displacement. Sharon, on the other hand, has already been displaced three times, especially since her house was destroyed by Typhoon Odette (Rai) back in December 2021.

Together, they manage a household of seven, including two children, all sharing one small tent as they navigate the challenges of living in the evacuation center.

In the photo: Karylle, together with her baby, shares her experience at the evacuation center at the old public market in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, Cebu—photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Daily life in the evacuation center is extremely challenging. Space is minimal, making it uncomfortable and difficult to move, especially at night when everyone is lying down, and the tent becomes crowded as all family members try to sleep.

During the day, it becomes very hot, while at night it gets cold. Noise from other families, children crying, people talking, and constant movement throughout the night make it almost impossible for anyone to rest.

“The baby cannot sleep well, which keeps everyone awake,” Karylle states. She adds, “For the children, the biggest challenge in the evacuation center is getting proper rest so they can wake up early for school, but the crowded conditions not only in the tent but in the evacuation center make this nearly impossible.”

Providing enough food and clean water has been a constant challenge. In the aftermath of Typhoon Tino, the government and humanitarian organizations provided support, but the scale of the community’s needs far exceeded the scope of initial assistance.

“Here in the evacuation center, I have to wash my baby with wipes when we have no water. I have no choice.” – Karylle

Access to water in the old public market is limited. There is only one faucet for hundreds of people, and the water is not always running. Some days, they go without water entirely. Even taking a shower has become a daily struggle.

“Here in the evacuation center, I have to wash my baby with wipes when we have no water. I have no choice,” explains Karylle, holding her baby.

Regarding water quality, they add, “We do not know whether the water is clean or not. We drink it daily. We have no choice.”

Families often bathe fully clothed in front of others due to the lack of privacy, which makes both Karylle and Sharon feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. “I am very shy, and I do not like people looking at me while I take a shower. But I have no choice,” says Karylle.

With only two bathrooms for hundreds of people, long waits are common, especially during the night.

“We do not know whether the water is clean or not. We drink it daily. We have no choice.”

After Typhoon Tino, the children missed almost three weeks of classes, and they continue to skip school because they rarely have clean clothes to wear. “Washing clothes is almost impossible. The pile of unwashed clothing grows daily, including the children’s school uniforms,” Karylle says, pointing to a pile of clothes in the corner of their tent.

 

She explains that they often wash clothes at the only faucet in the evacuation center at night to avoid long queues in the morning. However, the uniforms rarely dry by morning, leaving the children with nothing to wear to school.

“When we have our period, often we do not wash ourselves at all. It is impossible when you have no privacy, and you must take a shower with clothes on,”

In the photo: Sharon receives water and hygiene kits from UNICEF and Action Against Hunger, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, at the old public market in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, Cebu—photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Menstruation poses an even bigger challenge for women in the evacuation center. Both explain that maintaining proper hygiene becomes difficult because there is little privacy, leaving them with no safe space to wash or clean themselves. They rely on disposable pads, but without a private area, they often feel uncomfortable. At times, Karylle and Sharon also feel embarrassed because some people make remarks when they notice women are on their period, adding emotional strain to an already stressful situation.

“When we have our period, often we do not wash ourselves at all. It is impossible when you have no privacy, and you must take a shower with clothes on,” states Karylle.

Basic hygiene supplies and access to clean water make an enormous difference for families who have lost their homes and belongings. In moments of crisis, even the simplest items become essential for staying healthy and maintaining dignity. The water and hygiene kits provided by UNICEF and Action Against Hunger, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), have been crucial for Karylle’s household and for many other families now living in the old public market after Typhoon Tino.

In the photo: Karylle’s partner receives water and hygiene kits from UNICEF and Action Against Hunger, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, at the old public market in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, Cebu—photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

“I cannot mention just one important item in the kits. All the items are important, including the jerrycan,” Karylle shares. She adds that the towels are especially valuable for caring for their baby, since these items are expensive and difficult to afford in the evacuation center. The kit also includes chlorine tablets, which they use to purify water and make it safe for drinking and daily use—another lifeline for families trying to stay healthy in these conditions.

This support aims to help families like Karylle’s maintain better hygiene for themselves and their children, while allowing them to redirect the money they would have spent on hygiene items toward buying food.

In the photo: Action Against Hunger staff show the hygiene kits’ towels to families about to receive them at the old public market in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, Cebu—photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

To earn a bit of income, Sharon does laundry and washes clothes for others at the evacuation center whenever water is available. Karylle focuses on caring for their baby, while her partner works in construction, although jobs have become irregular and scarce because few people can afford to hire workers at this time. With limited income opportunities, supporting the family has become increasingly complex.

When asked about their critical needs, both agree that housing materials are essential for building proper shelters. Their hope for the future is simple: “My hope for the future is to have my own house.”

 

Written by Martina Vercoli
Edited by Joyce Sandajan

When Disasters Hit the Mountains: Beatriz’s Story from an Isolated Indigenous Community

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PORAC, PAMPANGA ─ Living in a geographically isolated upland area, the Aeta community of Sitio Pidpid in Barangay Sapang Uwak, faces daily challenges in meeting basic needs—especially access to food, clean water, and a stable income. When climate disasters hit, these struggles become even more difficult to overcome.

Beatriz, 75, who has spent her entire life in Sitio Pidpid and knows these hardships by heart, shares her story: the challenges she faced during the recent tropical cyclones, how life has been in their aftermath, and how the support she received helped her recover and regain a sense of hope.

In the Wake of the Storms

In mid to late July 2025, successive tropical cyclones—Crising (Wipha), Dante (Francisco), and Typhoon Emong (Co-May)—intensified the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and brought heavy, prolonged rains across Northern Philippines. Central Luzon was among the hardest hit. Widespread flooding and landslides submerged entire communities, disrupted livelihoods, and forced thousands of families to evacuate.

In Pampanga alone, more than 500,000 residents were reportedly affected, prompting the province to declare a state of calamity on July 24. Other provinces in Central Luzon faced similar challenges, particularly remote upland and indigenous communities cut off by damaged roads, swollen rivers, and unsafe terrain.

In Sitio Pidpid, an upland Aeta community in Porac, the disaster turned long-standing challenges into life-threatening conditions. For Beatriz, 75, and many others like her, isolation—already part of daily life in the mountains—became a heavy burden. Roads were blocked, electricity and mobile signal were lost, and the community waited anxiously for help, unsure when support might reach them.

In photo: Beatriz is showing Action Against Hunger, the mountain from which water flowed directly into her house when the typhoon hit Sitio Pidpid. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

“The water came from everywhere.”

When Typhoon Emong struck, water entered Beatriz’s home from two directions: heavy rain from above and runoff cascading down the mountain behind her house. Panic set in—her husband, now bedridden, could not move on his own. With the help of a neighbor, she tried to get him to safety while lifting their belongings onto an elevated wooden platform inside the house. Despite their efforts, two to three feet of floodwater quickly filled the room.

Amid the chaos, Beatriz courageously climbed up to the roof in the middle of the storm to try to secure it with stones and keep it from being torn away. While up there, she broke down in tears, feeling completely helpless. “The winds were too strong,” she recalls. “The roof was eventually blown off.” With nothing left to protect them, she and her husband huddled in a corner, covering themselves only with a sheet of plastic.

The next morning, exhausted and overwhelmed, they wept together. With relatives away and access routes blocked, help felt distant—until, she says, “Action Against Hunger came to offer assistance right after the tropical storm.” Their home still needs repairs, but the support brought relief, stability, and hope at a time when they had little left to hold on to.

Life in the uplands

For Beatriz, access to water has always been one of the hardest parts of daily life. Before any support reached Sitio Pidpid, residents depended on a river about one kilometer away. Each day, Beatriz would walk to the river, fill four large jerry cans, and carry them back to her home. The weight, combined with the distance and steep terrain, made the task physically exhausting. With her husband now bedridden and fully dependent on her, the responsibility of ensuring their household had enough water rested entirely on her shoulders.

In photo: Beatriz is showing Action Against Hunger how she used to fetch water from the river before the rainwater collection system of the ECHO-funded ACCESS project, was built in the barangay. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Food was another constant worry. Even before the storms, finding something to cook often meant hiking up the nearby mountain to gather puso ng saging or banana hearts, sweet potatoes, and root crops. After the disasters, the difficulty intensified. With no stable income and limited mobility due to her caregiving duties, there were days when she had to ask strangers for food or money just to get by.

Life had been different two years earlier, when her husband was still able to walk. They farmed together outside the village and stayed in a small shelter near their fields. But with his illness worsening, Beatriz now carries the full burden of providing, caring, and managing everything at home.

In photo: Beatriz does laundry using the water collected from the rain water system installed by the ACCESS project.

Despite these hardships, she places immense value on education. Having reached only grade one herself, she sees schooling as a path to freedom: a way for her grandchildren to break free from poverty and challenge the discrimination faced by Indigenous communities. One of her grandchildren is about to finish elementary school, something that fills her with pride. Whenever she can save even a small amount, she gives it to them to support their studies.

When asked how she copes with stress, especially with the increasing threats brought by climate hazards, Beatriz shared that most days she “has no one to talk to.” Her granddaughter, who studies away from home, only visits on Fridays. The rest of the week, Beatriz faces her burdens alone. “It is very liberating for me to cry,” she said, describing how tears have become her release in moments of overwhelm.

Aid reaches the most isolated

In the days following the storm, communities in remote upland areas like Sitio Pidpid, home to many Indigenous families, were among the hardest to reach. Blocked and damaged roads made movement nearly impossible, leaving families cut off from essential services and support.

To respond, Action Against Hunger deployed emergency teams across Central Luzon to conduct rapid needs assessments in the most affected and geographically isolated areas. Despite the challenging terrain, coordinated multi-sectoral interventions were mobilized within 36 hours through the swift support of multiple funding agencies and partners.

In photo: The WASH engineer shows Action Against Hunger staff in Sitio Pidpid a component of the water collection system installed in the community and funded by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. (Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.)

One of the most urgent needs was water. With support from the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, the ACCESS consortium, with Action Against Hunger as an implementing partner, installed a rainwater collection system in Sitio Pidpid. The new system now provides families with a reliable and accessible water source, easing the everyday burden of fetching and storing water. ACCESS also distributed advocacy materials to help residents safely clean, store, and use harvested rainwater for daily needs.

In photo: In photo: The rainwater collection system in Sitio Pidpid is funded by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. (Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

 

For families like Beatriz’s, this improved access to water brought immediate relief. Complementing this, the multi-purpose cash assistance provided by Action Against Hunger through the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), enabled her to buy food and essential household items at a time when traveling to the town proper and earning an income were extremely difficult. “The support meant everything,” she shared, especially because she cannot leave her husband alone for long periods.

In photo: Action Against Hunger staff conduct an awareness-raising session on the cash assistance supported by SIDA in the community of Sitio Pidpid. (Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.)

Beatriz’s story reflects the strength of Indigenous communities as they face the increasing impacts of climate change. It shows how timely support and recovery initiatives play a crucial role, not only in providing basic needs to the communities affected by natural disasters, but also, in restoring dignity and hope, encouraging those affected to move forward when everything seems hopeless.

Every form of assistance, from emergency relief to lasting access to clean water, says Beatriz, “It is a step toward a safer and more secure future for my home, Sitio Pidpid.”
Written by: Martina Vercoli
Edited by: Joyce Sandajan

Returning to the life they knew: Joanna’s story after Typhoon Opong (Bualoi)

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PALANAS, MASBATE ─ Joanna Pilapil, 40 years old, grew up in the same barangay where she and her husband, Richie, are now raising their three children. In Barangay Miabas, their humble home kept them safe for years. Now, Joanna and her family find themselves struggling to rebuild the life they had before the devastation left by Typhoon Opong (International name: Bualoi).

In photo: Joanna Pilapil shows Action Against Hunger staff the way to her house in Barangay Miabas, Palanas, Masbate. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger

When Typhoon Opong hit the municipality of Palanas, in the province of Masbate, in the early hours of September 26, 2025, Joanna’s family had already evacuated to the local high school, which became their barangay’s designated evacuation center. When they returned, a bitter surprise awaited them; their house was severely damaged.

In photo: Joanna talks to Action Against Hunger team member inside her home in Barangay Miabas. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger. 

“When I saw my house in that state, I just couldn’t believe it. Many things were wet; others were broken,” Joanna recalls. “I couldn’t stop crying.”

“We can’t sleep when it rains; the children can’t rest properly,” she says. “We have to keep removing the water from the tarp.”

The storm left large parts of the roof torn off and weakened the wooden foundation. To keep the rain out, Richie and Joanna covered one section of the roof with tarpaulin. Their youngest child’s school supplies were irreparably ruined and had to be thrown away, which affected her schoolwork for several days.

Before Typhoon Opong, the family could sleep peacefully in their home. But after the storm, everything changed. Even light rain now makes them extremely anxious. “We just sit all together under a thick tarpaulin that covers the sleeping area of our house,” Joanna explains. The rest of the roof leaks badly, so the family gathers under the only dry spot. The tarpaulin catches the rainwater, and when the water starts pooling, they would try to drain it by poking the tarp with a stick so it does not collapse under its weight. “We can’t sleep when it rains; the children can’t rest properly,” she says. “We have to keep removing the water from the tarp.”

In photo: The tarpaulin covering the sleeping area of Joanna Pilapil’s house in Barangay Miabas, Palanas, Masbate. The family put it in place after the typhoon to protect themselves from rainwater leaking into the house. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Her husband, Richie, works in construction, but his job is unstable. He only earns when there are construction projects in the community, usually around 400 pesos a day, and considers himself lucky if he can work four days a week. Sometimes, he takes jobs in Manila, which is far from home. Joanna also works whenever she can, doing laundry and cleaning houses. These small jobs bring in 1,000 to 2,000 pesos a month when there is work available in the community. Their eldest child, now 19, could not go to college due to financial constraints. After finishing high school, he began working in a bakery to help with the family’s expenses.

“Everyone was affected by the storm,” Joanna explains. “The farmers who used to hire him, their crops are gone.”

After the typhoon, their main source of income was severely affected. Richie found it difficult to get construction jobs. “Everyone was affected by the storm,” Joanna explains. “The farmers who used to hire him, their crops are gone.”

The family’s financial situation worsened when their youngest child’s epilepsy required continuous medical care. Her medicines cost around 5,000 pesos a month, an amount the family can no longer afford. “I can’t even work that much anymore because I have to take proper care of her,” Joanna says, looking sadly through the empty wrappers of her daughter’s medicines. Then, she adds, “this month, I haven’t been able to bring her to her monthly check-up with the doctor. We have no money left. Now, food is our main priority.”

In photo: Joanna Pilapil, a resident of Barangay Miabas, Palanas, Masbate, looks through the empty wrappers of her daughter’s medicines, which she can no longer afford. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Access to clean water has also become a daily concern. Before the typhoon, the family bought a blue jerry can of mineral water for 35 pesos, enough for a week. Now, they cannot even afford to sustain it. “We get water from a well,” Joanna says, “not knowing whether it is safe or not. It is the only way we have to drink water.”

According to one of the residents, people in the community get their water from a well. After the typhoon, the water turned brown for a week, and there were reported cases of diarrhea and stomach aches. Even now, although the water appears clean, its safety remains in doubt. Residents boil it to make it drinkable, but cases of stomach aches and diarrhea are still being reported.

“Me and my husband prioritize our children’s nutrition,” Joanna says. “We give them food, and then he and I would share what is left.”

Food prices in the market have risen considerably. Despite a price freeze on commodities, nearby stores were selling goods at higher prices due to limited supplies. The family now buys one kilogram of the cheapest fish they can find for 200 pesos and makes it last for two weeks. Sometimes, they must buy on credit from the local store. They currently eat only twice a day instead of three times. Joanna then specifies: “Me and my husband prioritize our children’s nutrition,” Joanna says. “We give them food, and then he and I would share what is left.”

She worries especially about her youngest child, whose condition requires proper nutrition to prevent seizures.

Joanna shares the many responsibilities she manages at home while also working to support her family alongside her husband, and since the typhoon, even more has fallen on her plate. “Sometimes it is very hard for me,” Joanna admits. “I feel like I have a lot of responsibilities: managing household finances, taking care of the children and the house, working outside, and now also looking after some animals. Since the typhoon, it feels like I have even more to handle.”

In photo: Joanna Pilapil stands in front of her damaged house in Barangay Miabas, Palanas, Masbate. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

When Joanna talks about the food kit they received from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), she bursts into tears. “It is such a big help,” she says. “It is the first time we received this much. The food received is going to last at least two months,” Joanna states. “I will try to make it last as long as possible.”

In photo: Joanna Pilapil, a resident of Barangay Miabas, Baleno, Masbate with the food kit she received from ECHO. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

The assistance will allow her family to redirect the money they would have spent on food toward other priorities, such as their child’s medicines or repairs to their damaged house.

“It is such a big help,” she says. “It is the first time we received this much. The food received is going to last at least two months,” Joanna states. “I will try to make it last as long as possible.”

Even with this help, fear remains. “I am so scared another typhoon will hit our community,” Joanna admits. “Right now, we don’t have livelihoods, we do not have jobs, and we do not have money.”

Still, the aid they received gave Joanna and her family a much-needed sense of relief in a time of powerlessness. “We still haven’t returned to how things were before the typhoon,” she says quietly. “It is very far. Everything was gone when the disaster struck.” Yet, she adds with hope, “the help we received from ECHO will ease our worries. It is the beginning of our recovery. Our children will be able to have proper nutrition again.”

ACCESS (Assisting the Most Vulnerable Communities and Schools Affected by Complex Emergencies in Accessing Quality and Timely Humanitarian and Disaster Preparedness Services) is funded by the EU Humanitarian Aid. ​

This ACCESS Emergency Response provides multi-sectoral support to the most vulnerable indigenous peoples in hard-to-reach communities in Cagayan and Masbate that are affected by the impacts of habagat or southwest monsoon, and tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong; and in Northern Cebu that are affected by the impacts of the magnitude 6.9 Cebu Earthquake. This particular response is jointly implemented by ACCORD, CARE Philippines, Action Against Hunger, Community Organizers Multiversity, Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network, Inc., Save the Children Philippines, and the United Youth of the Philippines-Women.

 

Written by: Martina Vercoli
Edited by: Joyce Sandajan

Water, Hygiene, and Hope: The Morales Family’s Recovery After Typhoon Opong (Bualoi)

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PALANAS, MASBATE — After Typhoon Opong (international name: Bualoi) devastated their home in the municipality of Palanas, Masbate, on the night of September 26, Diolito and Lorna Morales faced unimaginable challenges. With only a small kitchen left as their shelter and the prices of basic goods rising, ensuring that their five-year-old grandchild and family had enough food, water, and hygiene essentials became a daily struggle.

When Typhoon Opong struck their community, Diolito (59) and Lorna Morales (64) thought they had already endured the worst, but this time was different. “The wind was so strong it felt like it was tearing our house apart in the middle of the night,” they recalled. Coconuts and branches fell all around them until a tree finally crashed onto their roof. As water quickly rose to their knees, they fled to their son’s house nearby to seek shelter.

For three long hours, the water kept rising. “All I could think was, if the typhoon doesn’t stop, there won’t be any houses left,” Diolito recalls their experience. When morning came, they sadly realized that their home was destroyed. They stood in front of what was left and cried. “I was sure I was not going to be able to recover,” he said. “My fishing net, I can fix that. But my house? How can I fix it without any income?”

In the first days after the typhoon, the family felt lost and powerless. They didn’t know what to do first—whether to repair their house, go fishing, or try to dry what was left of their belongings. Life since then has been a daily struggle, especially for their five-year-old grandchild, who lives with them in their household of seven and had never experienced anything like this before.

In photo: Diolito and Lorna Morales’ kitchen, where they have now been sleeping since their house was destroyed by Typhoon Opong. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Diolito and Lorna now sleep in their small kitchen, the only part of the main house that survived the typhoon, and which was once a separate structure. The rest of the family stays in their son’s house nearby, as there is not enough space in the kitchen to accommodate everyone.

The family’s income has been heavily affected as well. Diolito now goes out to the sea twice a day to fish, hoping to bring home enough to feed everyone. Before the typhoon, he earned around 20 pesos a day, but now he often earns only 5 or 10 pesos. Lorna, from her side, does her best to care for everyone at home, especially their little grandchild. “The little one feels the hardship too,” mentions Lorna as she looks at him playing in the courtyard. “I always feel like we have to work even harder for him, to give him a better future.” 

Despite a government-mandated price freeze on basic commodities during the state of calamity, some stores in their area still doubled their prices, even for water. The family buys drinking water from a local refilling station and uses tap water for cleaning and cooking. Since the typhoon struck their community, food and other essentials have become increasingly expensive. This is why, when aid arrived, it brought them much-needed relief.

“When we received the hygiene kit, it brought us hope and relief during such a difficult time” states Lorna. Inside, there were soap, shampoo, towels, toothbrushes, blankets, and other essential sanitary and cleaning items. The hygiene supplies they had lost in the storm — items that had been hard to find in nearby stores — were finally within their reach.

For Diolito and Lorna, receiving the kit lifted a huge weight off their shoulders. Knowing that their family’s hygiene needs were covered meant they could redirect what little money they had toward putting food on the table or buying materials to rebuild their home. 

Lorna, wrapped in a blanket from the hygiene kit, shares, “I still haven’t had the time to properly wash all our belongings that were soaked during the typhoon, especially our towels and blankets. I don’t have much time during the day since I have to take care of my family.”

The whole family uses the soap and towels from the kit, but it’s the toothbrushes and towels that mean the most to them. These items have been difficult to find in the community since the typhoon. For their grandchild, these small things brought back a sense of normal life and a feeling of being cared for.

In photo: Diolito and Lorna Morales’ grandchild stands in front of their destroyed home. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Their little one benefited directly from the shampoo and toothpaste. Lorna said it made her happy to see the child clean and smiling again, despite the despair around them. For a family that lost almost everything, these small things give them back dignity and hope. Even though the kit was meant for their household, they also chose to share some of the items with their son’s family living nearby. “It is the least we can do … to help our family by sharing,” admits Diolito proudly.

In the photo: Lorna Morales walking with the pail they received from the hygiene kit from UNICEF. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

For Diolito and Lorna, the support meant much more than supplies. It meant that their grandchild and their entire family could stay clean, healthy, and safe even after the strongest typhoon they had ever experienced. “It is the first time we received such aid.” They said. It brought hope for the next generation and reminded them that they were not forgotten. 

 

Written by Martina Vercoli

Starting over after Typhoon Opong (Bualoi): Myra’s story

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BALENO, MASBATE — When Typhoon Opong (international name: Bulaoi) struck Barangay Cagara in Baleno, countless families saw their lives turned upside down overnight. Among them was Myra (41), a mother of five, facing the challenge of starting over after losing nearly everything to the typhoon.

Myra is not originally from Baleno. She grew up in Quezon Province and moved to Masbate when she was 20 years old after meeting her husband through mutual friends. Three years later, they were married, and soon after, she became a mother. Over time, she built her life there—raising her children, tending to their home, and dreaming of a future where her family could live comfortably and securely.

Her husband has always been the main provider, earning a living from farming and construction work. It was never easy, but before the storm, it was enough to get by. Then came Typhoon Opong, and everything changed.

At around four in the morning, the wind grew violent. Myra remembers how the roof of their home was torn away almost instantly. “The roof was destroyed right away,” she recalls. “We ran to our neighbor’s house for shelter. We were so scared… we thought no one would help us rebuild our home.” When the storm finally passed, their house was completely destroyed, and all their belongings were soaked.

In photo: Myra walks into what remains of her house, destroyed by Typhoon Opong, in Barangay Cagara, Baleno, Masbate, and points to her soaked and ruined belongings. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

“I want to provide for my children, but I have nothing. I’ve started to accept that when it rains, my things might get wet, because we no longer have a proper roof.” – Myra

Now, the family sleeps together in their small kitchen—the only part of the house that survived. The space is crowded with everything they own, so every night they move their belongings outside to make room for sleeping, always anxious that rain might come and drench everything again.

The typhoon didn’t just take their home; it also took away their livelihood. Her husband lost his income from both farming and construction. “Everyone in the neighborhood was affected,” Myra explains. “No one had money to pay for construction,” she adds sadly. “All the crops ready for harvest were destroyed.”

In photo: Damages in Myra’s community in the aftermath of Typhoon Opong. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

Since then, each day has been a struggle. The family now relies on relief goods to get by. “After the typhoon, there was nothing left for us,” Myra says quietly. “Now, we rely on the relief we receive just to put food on the table.”

Before the storm, they could eat three meals a day. Now, even two are a challenge. The family uses water from a nearby faucet connected to groundwater for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing—hoping it’s safe enough because they have no other option.

Still, Myra tries to stay strong. When she feels overwhelmed, she turns to her neighbors for comfort. “During hard times, I talk to my neighbors,” she says. “They are going through the same thing, and my children keep me motivated.”

“It’s very hard,” she admits. “I want to provide for my children, but I have nothing. I’ve started to accept that when it rains, my things might get wet, because we no longer have a proper roof.”

In photo: Myra Manlapas walks into her kitchen, which was separated from the main house that now serves as her family’s sleeping area after Typhoon Opong, in Barangay Cagara, Baleno, Masbate. Photo by Martina Vercoli for Action Against Hunger.

When asked if she would consider working, Myra gently shakes her head. “If I could work, I would still choose to take care of my family,” she says. “They need me here.”

Amid all the hardship, humanitarian aid has brought new hope to Myra’s family. Action Against Hunger, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is providing cash assistance to disaster-affected communities to help families like Myra’s recover. Through this support, they were able to buy essential items and food.

The aid we received from Action Against Hunger and SIDA really helped us…We were able to buy what we needed—basic necessities and food. I’ve never received such help before.”

In photo: Action Against Hunger team conducts beneficiary sensitization and orientations on multi-purposes cash assistance with the community.

“The aid we received from Action Against Hunger and SIDA really helped us,” Myra shares with gratitude. “We were able to buy what we needed—basic necessities and food. I’ve never received such help before.” Part of the assistance will also go toward rebuilding their destroyed house, giving them the chance to start anew.

Even in the face of loss and uncertainty—common to those affected by natural disasters—Myra’s story is one of quiet strength and enduring hope. It shows that with timely assistance, families like hers can begin to rebuild their lives and recover what they have lost.

In photo: Recipients of the cash assistance during the multi-purpose cash assistance payout in Baleno.

According to the latest government data, Typhoon Opong affected over 163,000 families (around 664,000 individuals) across Masbate Province, damaging more than 106,000 houses, including over 21,000 totally destroyed. The hardest-hit municipalities include Masbate City, Aroroy, Cawayan, Mobo, and Baleno.

With support from funding agencies including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Action Against Hunger continues to assist the most affected families in Masbate by providing food and multi-purpose cash assistance, safe water access, hygiene kits, and support for early recovery and livelihood restoration—helping communities rebuild their lives after the devastating impact of Typhoon Opong.


Written by Martina Vercoli.

Washing Away Worries: How a Day Care Worker’s Persistence Helped Bring Water and Hope to a Remote Community

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For eight years, Tarhata Watamama has served as the daycare worker in Barangay Mapayag with patience, commitment, and an unshakable belief in every child’s right to learn and grow in a safe and healthy environment. 

DATU ANGGAL MIDTIMBANG, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR ─ At 40 years old, she currently teaches 32 students daycare learners (12 boys and 20 girls) in a small daycare center where limited resources services and structural gaps pose daily challenges. One of her long-standing struggles had been access to clean water.

“Mula po nung nasira ang aming handwashing [facility], hindi na po nakakapaghugas ng kamay ang mga bata tuwing may klase. Minsan po ang mga magulang ng mga bata ay nag-iigib ng tubig sa mga kapitbahay. (Ever since the handwashing facility broke down, the children could no longer wash their hands during classes. Sometimes, the parents would fetch water from neighbors,)” she explained.

While the barangay local government unit (BLGU) has been supportive in trying to meet the center’s needs, the lack of a functioning water supply system and adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities remained unresolved for a long time. Water had to be fetched from nearby homes and stored for use in washing and cleaning the daycare center, making daily hygiene activities difficult.

“Ever since the handwashing facility broke down, the children could no longer wash their hands during classes. Sometimes, the parents would fetch water from neighbors.” – Tarhata

“Hindi talaga kami makapaghugas ng kamay nang maayos. Wala rin kaming mga gamit tulad ng sabon, panlinis, o kahit timba. (We really couldn’t carry out proper handwashing. We didn’t even have basic supplies like soap, cleaning materials, or even pails.”)

With no anthropometric tools of their own, growth monitoring, which is essential for tracking the physical development of young children, was also hampered. Tarhata had to borrow tools such as height boards and weighing scales from the nearby barangay health station (BHS), just to fulfill her responsibilities as an early childhood care and development (ECCD) worker.

But things started to change when the center was selected as one of the beneficiaries of the “Strengthening Health and Nutrition Service Delivery Capacities in Early Learning, Alternative Learning, and Community Health” project.

With funding from the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Action Against Hunger and UNICEF Philippines aim to improve access to health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and education services for over 20,000 people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through this project. With a special focus on young children, pregnant & lactating women, and persons with disabilities, the initiative is strengthening the capacity of 19 health and learning facilities across the region.

Following a series of consultations with the MSSD and the Municipal Government of Datu Anggal Midtimbang and joint technical assessments by Action Against Hunger and UNICEF, critical WASH and nutrition-related interventions were carried out at the daycare center. These included the repair of the water supply through the installation of a water pump, which was then piped directly to the daycare center’s toilet and a newly constructed handwashing station. A rainwater catchment system was also installed to further enhance water availability. In addition, the handwashing facility was improved, and the daycare center was provided with essential supplies and materials for hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition—including soap, pails, drinking water containers, cleaning materials, and growth monitoring tools such as a height board and weighing scale.

“Napakalaking tulong po talaga itong ginawa po ni UNICEF at Action Against Hungert sa aming daycare center. Ngayon, di na kami mahihirapan. May tubig na po, may hugasan ng kamay. Bago mag-recess pinapahugas ko na ang mga bata (This is such a big help. Thanks to UNICEF and Action Against Hunger, it’s no longer difficult for us. We now have water and a handwashing station. I let the children wash their hands before eating at recess.)” Tarhata shared with a smile.

With access to water restored, Tarhata immediately began integrating proper hygiene practices into daily routines. The children, she noted, were more than willing to embrace the change.

“Thanks to UNICEF and Action Against Hunger, it’s no longer difficult for us. We now have water and a handwashing station. I let the children wash their hands before eating at recess. It’s wonderful to see the children enjoying handwashing now that there’s plenty of water, a proper station, and soap. They want to wash their hands all the time.”

“Nakakatuwa nga po dahil sa meron nang maraming tubig, handwashing area, at mga sabon, ang mga bata ay nag-eenjoy at gusto laging maghugas ng kamay, (It’s wonderful to see the children enjoying handwashing now that there’s plenty of water, a proper station, and soap. They want to wash their hands all the time.)” she added.

The impact goes beyond just hygiene. The daycare center also received height boards and weighing scales, allowing Tarhata to carry out growth monitoring on site. Parents no longer need to fetch water every morning. Children no longer need to leave the daycare premises just to wash up, which helps reduce potential risks and disruptions during class time.

“Isa din po sa pinasasalamatan po namin ay yung mga gamit tulad ng timba, lalagyan ng inuming tubig, sabon, at gamit panlinis. Lalo na po ang height board at timbangan. Wala po kaming kakayahan na bumili ng mga ito. May tulong po ang LGU, at suportado naman po ni Kapitan, pero kulang pa rin. Kaya salamat po talaga sa Action Against Hunger at UNICEF, (We’re really thankful for the supplies—pails, drinking water containers, soap, cleaning materials, and especially the height board and weighing scale. We could never afford these. Our LGU and Barangay Captain are supportive, but their resources are limited. That’s why we are truly grateful to Action Against Hunger and UNICEF.)” she emphasized.

For Tarhata, this is more than an improvement in infrastructure—it is an investment in dignity, safety, and opportunity.

“Sana po itong project ay marami pang matulungan na daycare centers at daycare workers, (I hope this project can reach more daycare centers and workers like me. Many still need help—especially when it comes to having access to water.)” she said hopefully. 

Her story is a powerful example of how the right support, provided at the right time, can uplift not just a center or a worker—but an entire community.

The “Strengthening Health and Nutrition Service Delivery Capacities in Early Learning, Alternative Learning, and Community Health” project is implemented by Action Against Hunger together with UNICEF, thanks to the funding support of the Korean government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

 

Written by Joyce Sandajan.
Contributors: Debbie Alaban, Moner Dipatuan
Photos by Noraisa Labing Duton and Norkisa Ayob Musa for Action Against Hunger

MERT Assessment in Hermosa Bataan

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER DELIVERS LIFESAVING AID AFTER TRIPLE STORM EMERGENCY IN THE PHILIPPINES

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Within just one week, three consecutive tropical cyclones—Crising, Dante, and Typhoon Emong (internationally named Wipha, Francisco, and Co-may, respectively)—struck the Philippines, affecting 34 provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and some parts of Mindanao. These storms, intensified by the Southwest Monsoon, unleashed widespread flooding, landslides, and destruction, underscoring the growing toll of climate change on the country’s most vulnerable communities.

The compounding impacts have affected an estimated 7.5 million people or over 2 million families according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development[1], with more than 203,000 individuals displaced and nearly 30,000 homes damaged. Typhoon Emong, the strongest among the three, made two landfalls in Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur, submerging towns, destroying farmlands, and cutting off access to basic services.

Since July 22, Action Against Hunger has been actively responding to the crisis through coordinated humanitarian operations and joint rapid needs assessments. Our Mission Emergency Response Team (MERT) in the Philippines was immediately deployed to affected areas in Metro Manila, as well as devastated municipalities in the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, and Pangasinan.

These efforts are being carried out in close collaboration with local stakeholders as well as partners under the ACCESS Consortium with funding from the European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO). Emergency response interventions are also being carried out with funding support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

Department of Social Welfare and Development (2025). DSWD DROMIC Report #26 on the Combined Effects of Southwest Monsoon and Tropical Cyclones “Crising”, “Dante”, and “Emong” as of 30 July 2025, 6AM. Accessed online on 29 July 2025 from https://dromic.dswd.gov.ph/effects-of-southwest-monsoon-and-tropical-depression-crising-17-jul-2025/

In photo: Action Against Hunger MERT visits one of the affected indigenous peoples’ communities in Payangan, Dinalupihan, Bataan. (Photo by Lorena Sanz for Action Against Hunger)

“We didn’t expect the water to rise and reach our house because we live in what’s considered a high area. We let our guard down, so we didn’t move our things to higher ground. But the flood reached us anyway,” said Janice (not her real name), a 44-year-old mother from one of the river-adjacent barangays in the Municipality of Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Province of Rizal. “I had to carry my 5-year-old child as we made our way to the evacuation center. The water was chest-deep.”

 

In photo: Barangay Manggahan in Rodiguez, Rizal is covered in thick mud in the aftermath of the flooding that occurred due to the heavy rains caused by the multiple storms and southwest monsoon.(Photo by Tom Lamache for Action Against Hunger)

According to Janice, flooding has become a regular part of their lives. Just last year, during Super Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi), the floodwaters rose all the way to their ceiling. “I just want to experience a life where we don’t always have to evacuate whenever it rains,” she added.

With the support of European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), Action Against Hunger activated its Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) under the ACCESS Project. Through this, we were able to distribute emergency water and hygiene kits to 150 displaced families in Rizal, 67 in Hagonoy, Bulacan, and 25 in Dinalupihan, Bataan by July 30. These distributions were complemented by awareness sessions on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), disease prevention, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), child safeguarding, and camp coordination and management. Simultaneously, with support from AECID, hygiene kits were distributed to more than 80 families in the province of Rizal. These efforts form part of a broader emergency response in Rizal Province, where Action Against Hunger is set to reach at least 700 families with Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and additional WASH support.

In photo: Janice unpacks the contents of the WASH kit she received from Action Against Hunger’s AECID-funded emergency response. (Photo by Joyce Sandajan for Action Against Hunger)

Despite these coordinated efforts, assessments highlight deepening vulnerabilities. Many families have lost access to food and income, creating urgent needs for extended food assistance and livelihood recovery. Contaminated water sources, flooded latrines, and the lack of hygiene supplies continue to increase public health risks. Mental health and psychosocial support services remain limited, with few safe spaces and unclear referral pathways for those in distress. Overcrowded shelters have raised protection concerns, including heightened GBV risks, while damaged homes and disrupted schools add further pressure on already vulnerable families.

In the coming weeks, Action Against Hunger will continue conducting rapid needs assessments in underserved areas, especially those not yet reached by other responders. These efforts will inform expanded interventions, including the distribution of hygiene and water kits, hygiene promotion sessions, minor WASH infrastructure repairs in evacuation centers, and sensitization activities on camp coordination and inclusive protection practices. We are committed to ensuring that our humanitarian response is inclusive, gender-sensitive, and responsive to the specific needs of indigenous peoples, women, and persons with disabilities.

In photo: Members of the Ayta Ambala community in Barangay Payangan, Dinalupihan receive WASH kits funded by the EU Humanitarian Aid through ACCESS. (Photo by Beverly Dycoco for Action Against Hunger)

To support long-term recovery, we will scale up emergency food security and livelihood programs, particularly in areas where flooding has disrupted markets and agriculture. We also aim to expand support for WASH facility repairs, mental health and psychosocial services, and GBV mitigation. Recognizing the environmental dimension of the crisis, Action Against Hunger is also working with local partners to integrate waste management and sanitation into a broader WASH strategy, especially in urban flood-prone areas.

Amid increasingly frequent and intense climate-related emergencies, Action Against Hunger remains committed to delivering life-saving, inclusive, and environmentally responsible humanitarian assistance. By working hand-in-hand with local governments, national agencies, humanitarian partners, and affected communities, we strive to bridge critical response gaps and ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind in the face of growing climate risks.

Check out our latest situation report for more information about our emergency response.

 

A SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN IN ACTION : WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFER SCHOOLS AND EMPOWERED CHILDREN

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Action Against Hunger Philippines, in partnership with UNICEF and with funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, continues to work closely with local governments to implement the “Typhoon Odette Recovery and Rehabilitation Towards Climate-Resilient Programme”, in Siargao Island. At the heart of this initiative is a shared commitment to improve WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services and governance, while also promoting climate adaptation strategies. This June, during the 2025 national campaign “Brigada Eskwela”, we joined hands with local government units (LGUs), schools, and communities to raise awareness and inspire action—especially among children and youth.

In the Philippines, Brigada Eskwela, also known as the National Schools Maintenance Week, is an annual program led by the Department of Education that mobilizes community stakeholders and volunteers to prepare public schools for the start of the next academic year. This year, Brigada Eskwela placed a special emphasis on the Filipino spirit of bayanihan (community spirit / cooperation) , a spirit that aligns closely with our vision.

In fact, at Action Against Hunger, we believe that building a world free from hunger begins with empowering communities, especially the youngest among them. Children are not only among the most vulnerable, but they are also the future advocates, leaders, and changemakers of their communities. That’s why our work doesn’t stop at delivering aid: we also focus on education, prevention, and building lasting partnerships.

And, in Siargao, where we implement two ongoing projects, our efforts highlight the power of cooperation and collaboration. When local governments, schools, and humanitarian actors work together, we can create spaces where children are not only protected but also empowered.

In this way and in the spirit of Bayanihan, we joined hands with local government units (LGUs), schools, and communities by participating at Brigada Eskwela 2025 through several awareness-raising activities focused on engaging children and youth, teachers and health workers. At the heart of our engagement remains the shared goal to strengthen WASH services, while promoting climate-resilient practices.

CHILDREN’S MURAL PAINTING

From June 6 to 17, 2025, as part of the Araw ng Burgos commemoration, we co-organized a Children’s Mural Painting activity along the Burgos seawall. In collaboration with the LGU, and community members, over 170 children expressed their hopes and commitments through colorful, climate-conscious murals focused on water conservation. Many tourists, local artists, and other representatives from tourism-related establishments also participated. 

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This vibrant activity not only beautified a public space but also became a platform for children and youth-led climate action.

STRENGTHENING YOUTH PARTICIPATION THROUGH WASH

Alongside the mural, on June 17, a WASH-focused exhibit booth was installed. This promotion session directly engaged 33 children who learned about safe hygiene practices and water-saving behaviors.

In picture : Photo by Victoria Valderama and Roland Pereyra for Action Against Hunger.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the start of classes, we supported the Brigada Eskwela 2025 campaign. Working closely with the Siargao Schools Division of the Department of Education, twelve partner schools from the municipalities of Burgos, Del Carmen, Pilar, San Benito and Santa Monica participated in our WASH initiatives.

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Awareness-raising activities on hygiene, handwashing, and the distribution of cleaning kits in these twelve schools were conducted by Action Against Hunger team, to ensure that every child learns in a clean, safe, and healthy environment. 

The main goal of this activity was to raise awareness among teachers and parents about improving WASH in Schools (WinS), to address waterborne related diseases, thereby ensuring a healthy environment for children since it directly affects children’s learning performance.

This initiative aligns with our commitment to help schools improve their WINS star ratings, a Department of Education benchmark that promotes better water and sanitation facilities, regular hygiene practices, and health education.

STRONG LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

The impact of these activities and the work of our teams on the ground, was recognized during the State of the Municipality Address, where the Mayor of Burgos cited Action Against Hunger’s contributions to local WASH and Circular Economy. 

But its important to remember that our work is possible thanks to the commitment of local leaders — barangay officials, school heads, health workers — who understand that building resilience begins with investing in children. They help open doors, engage communities, and foster a shared sense of responsibility. 

Through our projects like  Typhoon Odette Recovery and Rehabilitation Towards Climate-Resilient Programme and Siargao Green Economy Project in Siargao, we continue to support these actors by providing technical guidance, resources, and capacity-building opportunities. Our goal is to ensure that awareness-raising efforts are not only impactful but also community-owned and sustainable.

By working together, and by integrating WASH education into cultural events and national school campaigns, like Brigada Eskwela, we strengthen the local systems that protect children and promote healthier futures.

SIARGAO YOUTH TAKING THE LEAD IN CLIMATE ACTION

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On March 27, Action Against Hunger Philippines, in partnership with UNICEF, organized a meeting with youth leaders from the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Local Youth Development Office (LYDO) to strengthen Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategies for climate action. 

Seven youth leaders from the municipalities of Burgos, Del Carmen, Santa Monica, and San Isidro sat down with Action Against Hunger last March 27 to share their ideas, voice the challenges in their communities, and help shape practical solutions for climate action and clean water access. This meaningful discussion marked the start of a series of activities aimed at empowering young leaders in Siargao to take the lead in creating safer, more climate-resilient communities.

This collaboration is one of the initiatives to strengthen climate-resilient Water,  Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in disaster-affected areas, which is part of the Typhoon Odette Recovery and Rehabilitation Towards Climate-Resilient Programme, a partnership between Action Against Hunger Philippines and UNICEF, funded by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The program is focused on improving local government WASH services, governance mechanisms, and climate adaptation strategies. 

For one year, the program will focus on improving local government WASH services, strengthening governance systems, and supporting climate adaptation strategies across the municipalities of Burgos, San Benito, Del Carmen, Pilar, and Santa Monica in Siargao — emphasizing both technical upgrades and community empowerment.

YOUTH LEADERS AT THE CENTER OF CHANGE

Our meeting with the youth leaders marks the beginning of deeper conversations and lasting collaboration with youth representatives in Siargao. Our goal is clear: to ensure young leaders — especially from the Sangguniang Kabataan and the Local Youth Development Office — are not just included but actively engaged in our efforts. As key advocates for their peers, they play a vital role in raising awareness on clean water, sanitation, and climate change. By equipping them with practical tools and knowledge, we’re helping empower the next generation to lead meaningful, sustainable change in their communities.

Through this collaboration, we also aim to support youth leaders by helping them develop the skills and knowledge they need to guide positive and lasting changes in their communities, especially as part of local decision-making and leadership. Their unique perspective and strong connection to their communities make them essential in promoting lasting behavior change and ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and reflected in local development efforts.

In photo: Louie Ville Oro, the Municipal Agriculturist in Santa Monica and LYDO Designate of Santa Monica in-charge to perform and supervise all youth programs.

“Young people are crucial in influencing local government policies and implementing sustainable solutions for climate resilience and WASH improvements,” said Louie Ville Oro, the Municipal Agriculturist of Santa Monica and LYDO representative. “I’m positive that through this session, we can harmonize our outcomes at the LYDO level and integrate them into the Local Youth Development Plan. That way, whenever there are financial opportunities or budget alignments, the municipality can support.”

The initial meeting served as a vital space to align youth leaders on shared strategies and directions for climate action, while also laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration.  Importantly, this is only the beginning. This is the first session of planned engagements with this youth leader. Future sessions will support them in developing clear and actionable social and behavior change strategies tailored to the context of their community, ensuring their ideas and initiatives are translated into concrete actions and integrated into local development planning.

During the discussion, Louie emphasized how young leaders can lead locally grounded solutions, even with minimal resources. “The facilitator gave us a toolkit from UNICEF — that is the one I was looking for, and I’m excited to go deeper. Because that toolkit will be the guide for the SK to roll it out at the barangay level: to identify the problem, to analyze a possible solution that can be feasible at the SK level considering the minimal budget.”

Through dynamic focus group discussions, participants carried out a rapid behavior assessment, providing valuable insights into the challenges their communities face around WASH and climate resilience. Working together in a spirit of openness and mutual learning, the youth leaders thoughtfully analyzed key local issues. This process helped them identify specific behavioral changes needed in their communities and propose concrete solutions to address them.

 

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This initiative underlines the crucial role youth play in shaping their future, especially in the face of a climate crisis that disproportionately affects the Philippines.  Between 2016 and 2021, nearly nine million Filipino youth were impacted by climate change-related disasters, according to UNICEF. 

And it’s more than true in Siargao where the environmental pressure is growing. Not just from natural factors but also from tourism, waste management challenges, and fragile ecosystems. 

The island also experiences limited freshwater supply, with local springs drying up during summer and groundwater sources experiencing saltwater intrusion. These issues disproportionately affect disadvantaged and remote communities, leaving them without potable water for drinking and domestic use. 

“I’m expecting that we will go deeper as we move forward…It’s an eye opener because it’s a new challenge but we’re going to be involved more, especially since we live in an island community and taking climate action is very important,” said Louie. 

These young leaders in Siargao are determined now more than ever to dedicate time and energy in helping shape how their communities approach water, sanitation, and hygiene — especially in the face of disasters and a changing climate. Their fresh perspectives and creative ideas open up new ways of tackling long-standing challenges, often bringing to light practical solutions that may not have been considered before.

Additionally, youth leaders are digitally savvy and can leverage technology for awareness campaigns, data collection, and communication about WASH, DRR, and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA). Their ability to harness technology and digital communication tools allows them to run effective awareness campaigns, collect data, and engage peers in positive WASH behaviors and DRR practices.

“I think that [a strong familiarity with technology and digital tools] is one of the best assets of today’s youth. Considering the technology available, it is possible that the SK can elevate strategies and drive changes,” said Louie. However, he also points out that not all communities can rely on digital tools alone, so a combination of traditional and modern channels must be explored and there’s a growing need for adaptive communication strategies. “Maybe we can utilize another platform of communication. Some barangays in Siargao have public audio systems : they can broadcast. Those are early warning systems or even for barangay assemblies.”

A NEW GENERATION DRIVING LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Action Against Hunger and UNICEF are fostering a new generation of climate advocates who will drive sustainable change in their communities by equipping youth leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need. This initiative affirms the influence and capability of youth-led solutions to tackle the pressing environmental challenges affecting vulnerable populations across the Philippines, especially in Siargao.