NGOs call for government leadership in reconstruction of disaster area

NO SINKING SHIP Fishermen on the shore at Barangay 88, San Jose District, Tacloban City, get new boats after their old ones were destroyed by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” FILE PHOTO/ RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines—Strong government leadership is needed for the recovery of coconut farmers and fisherfolk struggling to rebuild communities devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda, according to non-governmental organizations led by Oxfam.

“Many of the lower-income municipalities are struggling to recover after Yolanda and are heavily dependent on private sector companies, the United Nations, or NGOs for rehabilitation support,” the groups noted in a press statement. “Government attention and investment in these areas is required to ensure people do not fall further into poverty.”

Justin Morgan, Oxfam country director, said: “This is a critical moment in the recovery after typhoon Yolanda. Government must play a strong leadership role and provide transparency and accountability in terms of plans and how resources will flow, especially to local governments and communities.”

“Fishing communities and coconut farmers are some of the poorest people in the areas affected by Yolanda (known internationally as Haiyan). Women fisher folk and farmers are particularly overlooked for support as they are less likely to be on the official registers,” the NGOs said.

In the statement, Oxfam, NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR), and Fair Trade Alliance (FairTrade) proposed a number of actions the government should take for a more effective rehabilitation effort in Leyte and Samar, the two provinces that were hit hardest by Yolanda last November.

They urged faster distribution of chain saws, slicers and sawmills to local government units in affected areas, and the immediate funding of related fuel and maintenance costs and the provision of training and skilled personnel.

The groups also sought the distribution of seeds and other inputs to enable farmers to grow vegetables as emergency food and income sources.

They also sought the implementation of the Integrated Coconut Industry and Poverty Reduction Roadmap, and harmonizing  its implementation with existing efforts for the recovery and rehabilitation of the coconut industry, including the establishment of a Coco Industry Development Trust Fund using the controversial coco-levy funds.

The NGOs also said fisher folk affected by Yolanda must be provided not only boats and fishing equipment, but also facilities for drying, processing, and storing fish, and for aquaculture.

They urged the government  to “build on current government and non-government work on fishery and coastal resource management to sustain the livelihoods of small fisher folk.”

“The Department of Agriculture must ensure that women are recognized as fisherfolk, and are included in the official government fisherfolk registry,” they added.

The NGOs are holding a series of roundtable forums with the governors of Leyte and Eastern Samar, and the mayors of Tacloban, Palo, Tolosa, Llorente, Guiuan and Hernani towns, to call for both immediate and long-term support.

More than 100 people from the affected towns of Leyte and Eastern Samar are expected to attend, including coconut farmers and fisherfolk, as well as representatives from the provincial and municipal governments, and national and local line agencies.

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