Needs Assessment in Yolanda-devastated Areas in Northern Cebu
Period Covered
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Start Date: Nov 14, 2013
End Date: Nov 20, 2013
Summary of Main Achievements
1) Interviewed government officials and key informants, and filled-out rapid impact
assessment forms about 9 affected municipalities in Northern Cebu: Bogo City, San
Remegio, Tabogon, Medellin, Daan Bantayan, Bantayan, Sta. Fe, Madridejos, Pilar
2) Identified key partners that are willing and ready to implement Emergency Employment
projects with ILO: Regional DOLE and municipal government units
3) Discussed requirements and possible activities with key implementing partners and
developed a narrative proposal and program of work for Emergency Employment projects
covering 5 of the municipalities visited: San Remegio, Daan Bantayan, Sta. Fe, Madridejos,
Pilar
4) Explored implementation, logistics, social preparation, security and project monitoring
agreements with identified partners
5) Collected DOLE templates for municipal MOAs and resolutions, and draft guidelines for
emergency employment projects; and local / municipal reports about the extent of the damage
to infrastructure, livelihoods and affected persons
Mission Findings
In the northern part of Cebu province, an estimated 95% of public and private
infrastructures were destroyed and the whole area is still without electricity. Around 450,390
families and 2,012,444 individuals were affected. Livelihoods related to agriculture, fisheries
and tourism have been severely affected and people have been relying on relief goods. A
total of 141,115 houses were damaged. Total damage in terms of infrastructure and
livelihoods is worth billions of pesos.
ILO’s assessment team visited 9 cities and municipalities: Bogo City, Tabogon, San
Remegio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Santa Fe, Madredijos and Pilar. The five local
governments most in need of ILO’s Emergency Employment interventions because of the
extent of damage and the minimal availability of support from other groups are
Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Madredijos, Santa Fe and Pilar.
Daanbantayan, where the supertyphoon, made its fourth landfall, has 20,511 households
affected with most of its public schools and village centers damaged. Damage to agriculture,
dependent on mango and corn, is reportedly 100% destroyed while 75% of fisheries have
been affected due largely to the destruction of fishing boats. The municipality’s tourism
sector, based on the operations of beach resorts, is non-functioning because of damages to
facilities and the lack of power.
In San Remegio, an estimated 9,908 households were affected and public facilities, including
schools, are destroyed and cluttered with debris. An estimated 74 million pesos is needed
just to rehabilitate its public schools. Damage to agriculture, mostly coconuts, is at 85%
down while for fishing it is at 80% also because of the destruction of fishing boats.
Madredijos is on Bantayan Island which is made up of three towns (the other two being
Santa Fe and Bantayan). 7,351 houses were destroyed in the municipality. The municipal
hall and cultural center sustained heavy damage. 17 public schools were also damaged.
Estimates by local officials peg damage to both agriculture and fishing at 75%, while damage
to livestock (mostly chicken egg-laying farms) is at 95%. A feed mill operating in the
municipality and which employs around 100 workers has stopped operations because of
heavy damage.
In Santa Fe, also on Bantayan Island, local officials report of 6,100 people affected by the
typhoon and damages to the municipal hall, rural health unit, barangay halls and 11 public
schools. Livelihoods are heavily affected with 100% of agriculture and 80% of fisheries
destroyed. Around 500 laborers working in the local feed mill, resorts and egg-laying farms
(which stopped operations because of damages) have been affected. Waste management is a
major concern of the local government to prevent the possible outbreak of disease from the
waste in damaged poultry farms and insects drawn by rotting coconuts.
Pilar in Poson Island is the farthest town from Cebu City - the provincial center, is actually
closer to Leyte Island than to Cebu. The municipal government estimates that 3,066 houses
were damaged and total damage to agriculture will reach up to 75 million pesos - mostly from
the loss of coconuts and vegetables, specifically eggplant and ampalaya (bitter
gourd). Fishing has been damaged as well by an estimated 60%. Eleven of the town’s public
schools and their health centers are also damaged. The difficulties of the town are
compounded because of its inaccessibility.
Please refer to the Northern Cebu proposal and report for more details
Follow-up actions/next steps
Proposed Plan of Action - to be finalized:
1. Pre-implementation stage (Manila)
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Finalize the ILO proposal and program of work
Coordinate with DOLE on the canvassing of work equipment from local vendors
Finalize details of agreements with DOLE and LGUs
Coordinate with the LGU for the signing of Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resolutions
authorizing their mayor to sign the municipality-specific LGU-DOLE-ILO
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which would spell out the role of implementing
partners in carrying out the emergency employment projects in target areas
Coordinate with social protection agencies (SSS and PhilHealth) regarding the
registration of workers, and double checking for those who are DSWD 4Ps members
Coordinate with the National Statistics Office (NSO) or the LGUs regarding the
processing of IDs or barangay certifications for workers without identification
documents
2. Coordination with DOLE and signing of agreements (onsite)
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Signing of municipality-specific MOAs with LGUs-DOLE-MSWDO-ILO and, if
necessary, other local partners
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Procurement of work equipment (in affected regions if possible)
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Coordinate with LGUs and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
(MSWDO) regarding the identification of workers
3. Delivery of materials and social preparation
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Coordinate with DOLE and LGUs regarding the delivery of work equipment to the
municipalities
Identify sites / facilities where work equipment and collected reusable debris may be
stored
Facilitate mass worker registration to Philhealth, SSS, accident insurance, NSO, etc.
Hold a 1-day workers’ orientation on ILO methodologies, OSH and site-specific plan
of action
4. Implementation of 15-day emergency employment projects
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Coordinate ongoing work of partners:
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Implementation of site-specific projects in compliance with OSH guidelines
Progress monitoring of LGU
Release of salary by DOLE
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Facilitation of quick membership to social protection programs for the workers
5. Post-implementation
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Hold an exit meeting and site assessment with implementing partners
Collect the Certificate of Completion from LGU
Collect liquidation report from DOLE
Gather recommendations and observations regarding next steps (EIIP and skills
training)
List of Contacts
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DOLE Regional Director, Chona Montilla
DOLE Provincial Chief, Grace Diaz and her rapid assessment teams deployed in
Northern Cebu
Local government officials of the 9 municipalities (mayors, vice mayors, councilors,
municipal engineers, Municial Social Welfare and Development Officers, Public
Employment Service Officers, etc)
Gawad Kalinga emergency response teams, private sector employers and trade union
representatives