EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 234 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013
COMMUNITY SENSE
DSWD core shelters survive Typhoon Pablo A
LL 27 units under the core shelter program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which were constructed in Barangay Carmen, Boston town, Davao Oriental remained standing following the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo last December 4. “Our core shelters are structurally-strong and environment-friendly shelter units which can withstand wind velocities up to 180 kph, intensity four (4) earthquakes, flooding and other similar hazards.” Raquel E. Nunez stressed in her speech during the inauguration and blessing of the core shelter units last October. Costing P70,000.00 each, the DSWD core shelter units were built in the town’s one-hectare relocation site, a mere 10-minute ride from the poblacion. The 27 family-beneficiaries are flash flood victims whose houses were situated near the riverbank. The occurrence of ‘Pablo’ just confirmed the toughness of the structures. Municipal Information Officer of Boston Judith Castres shared of his inconceivable ordeal. He likened ‘Pablo’ as the savage
devil himself, viciously extinguishing anything, anyone that crossed its path. If anything or anyone is left unscathed by its wreckage, it returns with intensified fury, overpowering, smashing, twisting and maiming all that remained standing. But the DSWD shelters defied its mercilessly wrath. “In the aftermath of the typhoon, we noted that the surrounding structures and coconut trees were practically smashed to the grounds yet the core shelters in Brgy. Carmen remained whole except for about 10 units whose roofing materials were seized by the fury of ‘Pablo’. In fact we were amazed with the sturdiness of the DSWD housing. Wala dyud natandog ang mga balay. Natanggal lang ang mga atop sa uban pero ang tanan balay nagpabilin nga mibarog luyo sa pagkuso-kuso ni Pablo, (The houses remained intact. The CGI sheets of some were ripped up but all houses stood solid despite the ferocity of Pablo). The DSWD-CSAP (Core Shelter Assistance Program) is extended to individuals or families left homeless by di-
The core shelters of the Department of Social Welfare Development in Boston town after ‘Pablo’.
sasters. The project is a community development initiative utilizing the principles of community organizing, convergence of services and capability building. DSWD in coordination with local government units and some congresspersons also built core shelters in Banaybanay, San Isidro, Gov. Generoso, Mati City, Lupon and Tarragona in Davao Oriental; Malita, Hagonoy and Bansalan in Davao Del Sur; Maco in Compostela Valley; and Talaingod in Davao Del Norte. Core shelter beneficiaries are organized into
Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance (NASA) and undergo Values Formation Orientation. Through this, they learn to understand their situation and their problems at hand and intently work to arrive at solutions. The bayanihan spirit has unified the community in Boston. Each family settler has become responsive, mindful and caring towards his/her neighbor. When they have problems in the family and community, they talk it out and consult the officers to help settle issues. At its ground breaking rites in 2011, former May-
Globe joins Metro Weather for free and near real-time weather data
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EADING telecommunications company Globe Telecom has joined Metro Weather online weather project in Metro Manila, Rizal and Corregidor designed to provide free and near real-time weather data necessary to help people prepare for typhoons, heavy rains, and severe flooding. By providing information and communications
infrastructure to Metro Weather, Globe hopes to promote awareness of environmental issues to its employees and stakeholders, and prompt them to participate in activities that help conserve the environment and mitigate climate change. “We’re delighted to be part of the Metro Weather alliance which is a very important endeavor that
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will surely enable various organizations to increase their readiness and disaster risk resilience. The Globe way is all about transforming lives with innovative solutions. We will be remiss in our sustainability efforts if we are not involved in taking care of the community and the environment,” said Rob I. Nazal, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibil-
US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. (left) and Globe Corporate Social Responsibility Head Rob I. Nazal share a light moment with Manila Observatory Executive Director Antonia Loyzaga during the launch date of the Metro Weather automated weather station in Corregidor.
ity.
Metro Weather utilizes 30 automated weather stations (AWS) placed in sites hosted by Globe and other partners which include MMDA and Chevron (through Caltex retail stations) in critical Metro manila cities and strategic areas in Rizal such as Antipolo City, Rodriguez, Angono, and Jala-Jala as well as in Corregidor. Also involved in the alliance are ADMU and MO. Aside from hosting some of the AWS sites, Globe also powers the data transmission from the weather stations to the Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) through Manila Observatory (MO) and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). In turn, information can be accessed free of charge via www. metroweather.com.ph, www.weatherlink.com, and MMDA’s Metro Manila Traffic Navigator web app. Data includes information on current rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, solar radiation and ultraviolet index.
or Ramie B. Rosit of Boston expressed his gratitude to the department. He also reminded the recipients to maintain their homes, get involve and work hard to make the project successful. “If we do well with this one, we may be able to get additional units from DSWD for the other disaster victims in our town,” he challenged in their local Dabawenyo. Even in her message, former DSWD Director Ester A. Versoza urged beneficiaries in Cebuano: “Love your home because is it life itself. It gives you happiness, shelter and privacy. Make sure that
you actively participate in community affairs and nurture a harmonious relationship among your neighbors. Sustain the project and let’s work hard to make this site become a model community for CSAP in Davao Oriental.” In the same event, Brgy. Captain Rosalinda A. Adalim warmly conveyed in Dabawenyo, “We have longed for this dream to come true and now it has been fulfilled finally. Let us treasure this.” Having bravely overcome Typhoon Pablo, the core shelters must be treasured the more. [DSWD]
Sun, Smart donate P10 M to help rebuild communities
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EADING telecommunications firms Sun Cellular and Smart Communications recently donated P10 million to the PLDT-SMART Foundation to help rebuild communities of the Typhoon Pablo victims in Mindanao. Apart from setting up free call stations and emergency communication measures in the typhoon-affected areas, Sun and Smart have gone further to support the MVP Group and the PLDTSMART. Foundation in raising funds for relief as well as the rebuilding of homes and restoration of livelihood sources for the typhoon victims. “Seeing how this typhoon has devastated Mindanao, we join the rest of the nation in its ongoing support operations and extend our resources to help our typhoon-hit kapatids rise through these tough times,” said Orlando B. Vea, concurrent Chief Executive Officer for Sun Cellular and Chief Wireless Advisor for Smart. With the developmen-
tal planning and community restoration efforts already underway, Sun and Smart also continue to spark generosity among mobile subscribers by tapping on their existing over-the-air technologies and putting up a centralized text donation service for the benefit of these typhoon victims. “As we aim to facilitate the coming in of more relief funds, we have also made it easier and more seamless for our subscribers to send in their donations through text,” explained Vea. “This way, we hope to foster thebayanihan spirit and encourage more Filipinos to help out their fellowmen, especially in these times of need.” Both members of the country’s largest telecommunications conglomerate, as well as the MVP Group of Companies, Sun Cellular and Smart Communications continue to join forces and partner with different organizations to put up sustainable programs for disaster response and emergency relief.