As they gather for a relief distribution, it is surprising to see smiles in the faces of the victims of Typhoon Glenda as it is quite eminent that the devastation brought by the Typhoon will have an effect on their respective families for some time.

In the night of July 15, 2014, Merlina Cornaza, Felipa Carol and the other residents of Quezon Province felt the onslaught of Typhoon Glenda as it swept away houses, coconut trees, electric posts, billboards and other signage.   Residents in coastal areas lost their fishing boats and nets, their primary source of income.  The aftermath of the Typhoon also revealed unpassable roads, damaged schools, hospitals and other establishments and disrupted communication and electrical services in the locality.

“Eto na ang pinakamatinding bagyo na naranasan namin. Kung makita ninyo ang bahay namin, matigas na lang ang puso ninyo kapag hindi kayo napaiyak,” Merlina, 54, tearfully shared as she describes what happened in their house in Brgy. F. De Jesus, Unisan, Quezon.

Merlina’s family is one of the 36, 944 households in Quezon whose house was totally damaged by the typhoon.

“Sa sobrang lakas ng hangin, natanggal ang bubong namin. Tapos, natumba lahat ng tanim kong puno ng saging at niyog. Umapaw din ang ilog kaya binaha kami ng abot bewang,” Felipa , a resident of Gumaca, shared.

Merlina and Felipa’s stories are similar to at least 151,000 families affected in the province. But, each one of them is now pushing to get back on track and rebuild their lives.  Merlina, together with her three sons, built a makeshift shelter until they will have enough money to build a new home. Felipa, on the other hand, had bought materials needed to repair their house. She and her other co-workers in the Barangay Health Center also organized a feeding program for the typhoon-affected families in their area.

Residents, in coordination with their respective local government units and the national government, had worked together to clear up the mess caused by the typhoon.

 “Kailangan naming bumangon agad at magtulungan. Walang mangyayari kung patuloy lang naming iisipin ang kalunos-lunos na nangyari sa amin,” Merlina said while talking with fellow typhoon victims gathered in circles before the relief distribution.

The relief distribution, which was conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Provincial Government of Quezon, is one of the immediate responses of the government to aid typhoon victims.  Merlina and Felipa’s families are among the 15,731 families provided with relief goods during the first wave of distribution.

To date, the Provincial Government had completed distribution of relief goods to all Typhoon Glenda affected areas.  They also intend to distribute materials needed for rebuilding destroyed houses. The Provincial Government and the DSWD will also be implementing Cash for Work / Food for Work Projects for repair / rehabilitation of facilities destroyed during the typhoon.

 “Ang inyong mga ngiti ang nagsisilbing patunay na kaya nating bumangon sa kabila ng madilim na karanasan na ito,” DSWD IV-A Regional Director Leticia Diokno said to the affected families during the relief distribution.***