Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Dispatch

December 27, 2021

#TabangBohol

Update on the situation of OdettePH-affected farmers and fishers 

Millions of Boholanos in evacuation centers are in dire need of clean drinking water. Bohol province, located in Central Visayas, was among the hardest-hit when Super Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) struck the Philippines on December 16, 2021. 

The super typhoon has affected more than 1.5 million Filipinos in several regions across the country. More than half a million houses were damaged. Infrastructure damage reached P16.67 billion, and agriculture incurred some P3.9 billion damages according to the latest situation report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). 

Out of the 389 fatalities recorded nationwide as of December 27, more than 100 were from Bohol. The majority of the fatalities were from the towns of Ubay, Talibon, Bien Unido, Loon, San Miguel, President Carlos P. Garcia, Inabanga, and Catigbian. At least 12 persons remain missing and almost a hundred were injured. At least 26,590 families or 61,997 individuals were evacuated during the onslaught of the typhoon in Bohol. 

The typhoon’s vicious winds toppled power pylons, shutting down over 30 transmission lines in the Visayas and Mindanao grids, and causing widespread power outages. An extensive part of Bohol and Leyte still has no electricity due to damaged submarine cables. Telecommunications remain intermittent.  

People in the Visayas and parts of Mindanao continue to appeal for food, water, humanitarian and disaster aid as they try to survive the onslaught of #OdettePH. While Malacanang assures that the government has not forgotten typhoon victims, disaster response and relief are not reaching those who are in most need of help. Worse, the PH government claims that funds for disaster response were depleted. 

Damage to PH agriculture, fisheries

Typhoon Odette also left a trail of destruction on farmlands and fisheries in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Camiguin in Northern Mindanao. Banana, corn, rice, high-value crops, and vegetable farms were destroyed during the onslaught of Odette. Agricultural infrastructure and equipment were also damaged.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported damages in the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga affecting 39,372 farmers and fishers. The volume of production loss was placed at 90,316 metric tons in 65,432 hectares of agricultural areas.

In Surigao del Norte in Mindanao, Typhoon Odette has left initial damage of over P1.122-B in the province’s fisheries sector — fishponds worth P264 million, P23.8 million to fish cages, P75 million worth of pump boats, P10 million in fishing gears, P20 million to other commercial fishing vessels, and P2 million to marine sanctuaries. Many coastal towns in Eastern and Western Visayas, and Caraga regions are also affected and in need of urgent assistance. 

Aside from losing their crops in the extreme climate event, thousands of farmer-families lost their homes, farm animals, and belongings. Poor farmers from the Talibon-Trinidad Farmers Association (TTFA) who were victims of red-tagging had their houses either totally or partially damaged but they are afraid to go to evacuation centers because of the militarized situation even in disaster areas. 

Members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas are leading Sagip Kanayunan relief and rehabilitation drive for farmers affected by the super typhoon. For its part, Tulong Anakpawis initiated immediate donation drives to aid typhoon-stricken individuals in evacuation centers. An initial P20,000 in cash was transferred to Anakpawis Bohol and was immediately used to purchase much-needed rice for typhoon victims. 

Cry for water, rice, and government assistance

Water is among the main problems in Bohol. Lines of people are waiting to refill empty water drums along the roadsides. Families in evacuation centers are rationed only five (5) liters of water depending on availability. Farmers, fisherfolk, and rural poor in Bohol are also in dire need of rice and food packs. 

Donation drives are underway to gather cash donations and pledges for food packs, drinking water, hygiene kits, clean clothes and underwear, cleaning materials, sleeping mats, blankets, rain boots, medicines, diapers, candles, and other immediate needs. 

We are appealing for your immediate support to Sagip Kanayuna and Tulong Anakpawis’ #TabangBohol – a relief and donation drive to aid farmers and fishers in Bohol province.  

For cash donations:

GCASH

09162436843

Nadja De Vera (with a note for OdettePH victims)