A YEAR AFTER QUAKE: World Vision continues recovery efforts in Bohol

One year after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Bohol, World Vision renews its commitment to support the families who are still in need of shelter.

An additional US $200,000 funding to World Vision’s Progressive Core Shelter Project in Bohol is expected to raise 100 additional housing units for the displaced families.

Josaias dela Cruz, executive director of World Vision in the Philippines said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to help more families in Bohol. Our established presence in the province enabled us to respond within hours to the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in October 2013.  With the support of our partners in the government, donor agencies and community partners, we were able to exceed our targets and serve 9,188 families and reach 43,387 individuals.”

Throughout the year, World Vision has sustained its emergency response providing water, food, hygiene kits, emergency supplies and tents for the first 100 days of the relief response before transitioning to recovery and rehabilitation by the start of 2014. Resources were then focused on shelter assistance.

Child-friendly spaces provided psychosocial support to hundreds of affected children. Recovery efforts were also matched with cash-for-work activities, disaster risk reduction trainings and community savings groups that helped the affected families get back on their feet.

Lessons learned from the earthquake also helped improve humanitarian practices in ensuring that resources are used with accountability and are utilized to help communities prepare for disasters, cope with emergencies and recover in their aftermath.

Most of the affected children and families have learned to move forward and regain normalcy.  However,  other challenges remain in helping the Boholanos fully recover.  Access to cost-effective construction supplies and labor limits the capacity of affected families to fully restore their homes and build better, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

“Working with the generosity and goodwill of people who supported relief and recovery efforts, the quake-stricken Boholanos united to overcome desolation and rebuild their own communities using their industry, courage and strength. They are the real heroes. They are a testament to the triumph of the human spirit over disasters,” Dela Cruz said.

Key Accomplishments

The World Vision deployed basic rapid assessment teams during the first 24 hrs after the earthquake.

During the first three months of the response, the group was able to distribute food and hygiene kits to the 7,015 families in 44 barangays. Hygiene promotion like proper hand washing was also conducted in distribution centers.

A total of 235 families whose houses were totally damaged received emergency shelter tents.

Another 1,022 families were given emergency supplies, including  bath towels, sleeping mats, blankets and mosquito nets. Four-hundred twelve families received shelter repair kits for partially damaged houses, while 504 core shelter houses were built for families whose homes were totally destroyed.

At least 1,468 children in six child-friendly spaces (CFS) received psychosocial support and alternative learning opportunities while waiting for classes to resume. Thirty-two teachers in four  schools were trained to provide CFS sessions.

More than 550 carpenters and laborers benefited from the cash-for-work programs, providing additional source of livelihood for low-income families.