Effects of Typhoon Yolanda

From Different Perspectives

By

Gianne Nicole Juson

OLT #1 – Disaster Readiness and
Risk Reduction
Sir. Jay Mallonga
 BACKGROUND OF REPORT

On 8th of November 2013, Typhoon Yolanda located East of Mindanao made its
entry to the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Yolanda was one of the
strongest and disastrous tropical cyclone travelling over 230 kph when it entered
PAR. The typhoon affected more than a total of 34,050 individuals 6,300 of
which who were reported dead, 28,688 iinjured and 1062 were reported missing.
Majority of the total percentage of casualties came from Region VIII. An
estimated total of PhP9,584,596,305.69 damage to infrastructure. An estimated
amount of losses is PhP2,614,192,306.24. The typhoon revealed the devastating
impacts it has on people’s lives and infrastructure damage caused an economic
setback. It also revealed the vulnerabilities and exposure of communities to
extreme events. The following report will give necessary details of the aftermath
of Typhoon Yolanda and the account of the typhoon from different perspectives:
(e.g., A.) Physical perspective, B.) Psychological Perspective, C.) Socio-cultural
Perspective, D.) Economic Perspective, E.) Political Perspective, F.)
Environmental Perspectives.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background ........................................................................................................... 1
Table of contents .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
A. Physical Perspective ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.-4
B Psychological Perspective ..............................................................................4-5
C. Socio- cultural Perspective ...........................................................................6-7
D. Economic Perspective……………………………………………………...8-9
E. Political Perspective ...................................................................................10-11
F. Environmental Perspective………………………………………………..12-13
References…………………………………………………………………………

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 A. PHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE

 Typhoon Yolanda falls under Category 5 hurricane with its wind speed of over
268kph, according to the Suffir-Simpson Hurricane Windscale. which has the
capacity to cause catastrophic damage, high percentage of destruction of
framed homes, total roof failure and wall collapse, isolation of residential areas
due to fallen trees and power poles, and power outages that could last for
weeks and possibly months.
 In the Philippines, a vast number of residents live in areas with poor
infrastructures and housing which made Typhoon Yolanda disastrous.
 4.1 million people were left displaced from their homes and 6 million-workers
were left without means to support their livelihood.
 Typhoon Yolanda caused severe damage to some of the Philippines biggest
sources of income, destroying coconut farms all over the islands, leaving a
million of farmers jobless and without means to support their living.
 Many families lost everything during Typhoon Yolanda and were left
struggling once the storm was over. The lack of options for transitional and
permanent housing prolonged the displacement for many families.
 Typhoon Yolanda caused most of the damage to the population and
infrastructure, such as, water, electricity and telecommunication.
 In the Eastern Visayas, within 150 days post-disaster, communicable diseases
that had the hightes rates of consulations include the following: acute jaundice
syndrome, acute respiratory infection, acute watery diarrhea, acute flaccid
paralysis, acute hemorrhagic fever, animal bites, conjunctivitis, fever skin
disease, leptospirosis, measles, meningitis and tetanus.
 Fractures and wounds including bruises and burns are considered syndromes
for injuries. Non-communicable Diseases (NCD’s) such as acute asmathic
attack, acute malnutrition, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus were
among the prevalent syndromes which affected the individuals.
 The age under five years old displayed higher rates for communicable diseases
while NCD’s were more visible in adults with hypertension becoming the
syndrome with highest number of consultation rate.

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 http://www.give2asia.org/blogpage/looking-back-typhoon-yolanda

 A Typhoon Haiyan survivor

walks past a dead body, wrapped in plastic Christmas theme wrapping in Tacloban on
Saturday Nov. 16, 2013. AP.
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/529781/latest-on-deaths-damage-in-typhoon-
yolanda#ixzz5csnxjgEa

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 Dr. Erlinda Posadas treats a child with cough in Loon mission.
http://vphcs.blogspot.com/2013/12/medical-missions-for-survivors-of-oct.html

B. PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

 According to a study by psychologists from University of Hongkong, Typhoon

Yolanda survivors showed higher levels of general psychological distress
(GPD) and post-traumatic stress (PTS).
 Among the disaster-related stressors (DRs) were financial instability, physical
injury and perceived life-threat, which are linked to mental health problems of
the disaster-exposed group.
 A data study collected by NGO in the Philippines compares the psychological
outcomes of survivor-responders of Typhoon Yolanda with a group of
unaffected responders. Participants in both groups were mainly public health
workers, health workers, teachers and pastors.
 The study found that the group of responders who were not in a region
directly affected during the storm showed higher levels of GPD and PTS.
However, no differences were found in PTSD prevalence between those
who were directly exposed and those who were not.
 All the participants either began working with other survivors or have
committed to conducting relief-work.
 The fact that participants were able to continue their pre-disaster line of work
or serve as responders might be an indication of relatively high well-being.
 Two weeks after the disaster, came a situation where people were moving
literally like “zombies”because they were in a state of shock and did not know
where to go. The people have been weakened emotionally, and physically for
lack of foods and psychological first-aids.
 The survivors were struggling to survive in the first two weeks because no
food and medical aids have reached several communities.

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 A Philippine Army
soldier distributes food aid to people displaced by Typhoon Haiyan waiting to board an
aircraft for evacuation to Manila November 15, 2013 at Tacloban Air Base, Philippines.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-philippine-army-soldier-distributes-food-aid-to-
people-displaced-62671078.html

(Chan, 2016/11/24)

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 C. SOCIO-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

 Poverty is prevalent in all affected areas, and particularly in Region VIII

Eastern Visayas where poverty incidence levels by magnitude of population
are the country’s highest (45.2%) with the exception of the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Also Region XIII Caraga (40.3%),
Region IV-B Mimaropa (31%), Region VII Central Visayas (30.2%) and
Region VI Western Visayas (29.1%) all score higher than the national average
of 25%
 The livelihoods of six million male and female workers have been affected by
Typhoon Yolanda. Income has been halved on average in many sectors.

 Damage to livelihoods has been significant, resulting not only in limited

income sources becoming further diminished, but also in households losing
one or more of their food sources. It is expected to take four to eight months
for farmers to recover their livelihoods. To meet their critical needs, some
families have resorted to a number of coping mechanisms that if prolonged or
exhausted might have deleterious effects such as chronic indebtedness. People
living in Regions VI Western Visayas and VII Central Visayas are reportedly
more prone to negative coping strategies (MCNA 2013/12/20).
 In Tacloban City area, as of November, a large number of retail stores run by
small vendors who normally supplied the city and its surrounding barangays
with fresh food and dry goods had been severely damaged. Other than physical
damage and looting, many reported a lack of capital and clientele. The few
shops that had resumed operations were reportedly selling goods that had
either been looted, or recovered from the debris such as cigarettes and light
drinks (Oxfam 2013/11/19).
 The community devastated by Yolanda showed the Filipino spirit, always
willing to help, and people extending help not knowing whom they are
helping. However, because of lack of food, medicine and basic needs were
scarce, due to reality that implies for survival. Many people resorted to being
selfish and did awful things such as looting and stealing as everyone wants to
survive.
 People of all social background and from different sectors of the government
were not exempted with the calamity. But because of Filipino’s resilience, no
matter how worst a situation gets, Filipinos will always choose to look on the
brighter side, wearing smiling faces amidst the crisis they are facing.

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  People helping one
another after the super typhoon Yolanda
https://trixiamontes.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/economic-political-and-social-
effects-of-super-typhoon-yolanda/

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 D. ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

 According to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA),

the total damage and loss from Typhoon Yolanda has been initially
estimated at PhP571.1 billion (equivalent to US$12.9 billion). About
PhP424.3 billion of the total damage and loss represents the value of
destroyed physical assets, while the remaining PhP146.5 billion
represents reductions in production, sales, and income to date and in the
near term.
 The Province of Leyte was severely devastated by Typhoon Yolanda,
with grave consequences to its socio-political and economic wellbeing.
However, a decisive action of the government and incessant efforts of the
international community enabled the Waray people to recover fast.
 The damage from typhoon Yolanda and the resulting loss in 2013 is
estimated to be Php101.79 billion, representing 0.9 percent of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).
 Many families will adopt strategies to escape poverty or mitigate the risk
of falling into poverty, such as migrating to safer locations and relying
on remittances. Thus, actual poverty rates will be lower than those
projected. Nevertheless, the incidence of poverty in the most severely
affected provinces will remain elevated for some time, as many families
have lost income generating assets.
 The poverty gap, which measures how far people are below the poverty
line, has also increased in the severely affected areas.
 The implication of the larger poverty gap is that not only are there more
people impoverished as a result of the damage caused by Typhoon
Yolanda, but itmay also take some of them a long time to escape poverty
 Total damage to the agriculture sector, based on partial reports, is
estimated at PhP31,130 million, including damage (production losses) to
crops,fisheries and livestock of PhP27,070 million and damage to
infrastructure of PhP4,058 million, including irrigation systems and other
facilities.
 More than the great casualty incidence, the super typhoon rendered
183,756 families totally homeless and 155,723 families with partially
damaged homes aside from a completely wrecked towns and cities and
brought damage to both the public and private resources and assets
resulting to infrastructure gridlocks and economic setbacks.

 Thus, the Province of Leyte has been exerting efforts to meet the goal of
rehabilitation and recovery in line with the Government’s strategic plan
on the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) aimed at
reconstructing the economy and livelihood in all its affected areas. The
main objective of the Province’s Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan is to

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 bring back the economic and social conditions of the people, at least, at
pre-typhoon level and a higher level of disaster resiliency.
 The sectors include outputs on infrastructure and utilities, housing,
health facilities,services, livelihood assistance in agriculture and
marginal sectors, and employment opportunities, and support to social
welfare services and the environmental, gender and development and the
overall poverty alleviation cross cutting themes.

https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_230821/lang--
en/index.htm

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 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Total-value-of-damage-and-loss-to-the-economy-by-
typhoon-Yolanda_tbl1_286459647

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 E. POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE

 The administration at that time under President Benigno Aquino was widely
critizd as a result of the delay of the response to the typhoon, causing a
nationwide hatred against the government.
 The relief and response was hindered due to political opposition between
President Benigno Aquino and Tacloban’s Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
 “You have to remember that you are a Romualdez and the President is an
Aquino.” –DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to Mayor Alfred Romualdez a few days
after Yolanda devastates Tacloban City. Although Secretary Mar Roxas denied
the allegations saying that the tape was edited out of context but, it was already
too late, the damage has been done. The victims of the typhoon became
enraged over the government’s grievances.
 The city of Tacloban is unfortunately under the enclave of the Romualdez
Family whose current Mayor Alfred Romualdez is a nephew of Former First
Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.
 Days after the typhoon, President Aquino visited Tacloban city and made
hurtful and criticizing remarks against the Mayor for not preparing enough
before the typhoon. Romualdez, in his defense, responded that his criticisms
were offensive especially to those who died during the calamity and called
for the improvement of the government’s disaster policies instead of
pointing blame.
 According to the law of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 6826. The
national government should declare a state of emergency especially, when
the expected storm surge has the potential damage. However it took
President Aquino three days before declaring so for Tacloban.
 Romualdez stated that the national government refused to assist Tacloban
city unless he signed an ordinance to allow it to take over.
 In a public forum in March 2014, President Aquino insisted that the reason
of the huge damage to the city was because of lack of preparation and
coordination.
 The funds from foreign donors also did not reach their intended
beneficiaries. Various aid agencies criticized the government for its slow
response in managing how resources should be used for recovery in a
disaster this calamitous. They remarked that the national government
weren’t prepared for disaster management.
 The environment of the government being overly cautious despite the
magnitude of the disaster can only be understood in the broader political
nature surrounding the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

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  Undoubtedly, political enmity between the families of Aquino and
Romualdez affected the rehabilitation and recovery progress in Tacloban,
which is fueling movements like the People Surge.
 It is comprehensible that the familial history would take over President’s
Aquino’s logicality, however he didn’t have to resort to involving the poor
and unprotected survivors in his selfish stance against the Mayor of
Tacloban City and other victims of the disaster.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/529883/aquino-roxas-romualdez-strike-deal

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 F. ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

 In just three weeks prior to Yolanda, occurred an earthquake that devastated

the areas in the Visayas, Bohol and Cebu Islands.
 The earthquake resulted a great risk of debris flow because rubble and
sediment has not been cleared up totally from area. Structures were already
weakened by the October Earthquake and made it particularly vulnerable to the
tropical cyclone.
 Typhoon has high sustained wind speeds. Satellite images indicate low cloud
temperatures meaning that the typhoon could also bring a lot of rainfall that
could potentially cause flash floods and high river levels.
 Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) made first landfall in the early
morning of 8 November and left a wide path of destruction and debris in the
wake. It struck the Visayas causing immense damage and population
displacement and killing nearly 6,000 people.
 Atleast 1,500 remain unaccounted for. As of 23 November, the Government
estimates indicated that 13.26 million people were affected by the Typhoon.
 According to a study report, there were some environmental concerns in the
aftermath of the disaster. The environment concerns included: a.)
contamination of oil along the coastline, b.) Major damages in residences and
infrastructures , c.) damaged coconut palms and many more.
 Concerns were raised that the dumpsite in several municipalities in Tacloban
which does not have a bottom lining or system to collect the liquid waste that
drains from the dumpsite. This causes high risk of infiltration directly into
ground water and open water bodies downstream.
 Toxic and hazardous substances and diseases could also spread through air
particles, dust, animals, fish or absorbed by vegetation.
 Apart from the environmental and health concern have the lack of livelihood in
the area and the existence of child labor at the dumpsite have been highlighted.

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  Extensive work to clear disaster debris has been done all over the affected
area. In Tacloban and some other places, most of the collected debris has been
deposited at the municipal dumpsite.
 In general there is a lack of sites to handle and deposit debris. Illegal burning
of household waste is common, but was probably the case before Haiyan. A
big effort has been made to support and improve the waste managements in
parts of Region VIII.
 There is a lot of dried debris in typhoon affected areas and there is a higher
risk for fires during dry spells. Especially people living in tents and
bunkhouses, that easily ignite, are vulnerable if fires spread uncontrolled.
 Environmental sustainable solutions integrated with gender and age should be
promoted. This applies to most areas. Especially the rehabilitation of
livelihood includes challenges and impact gender and age in different ways.

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 References:
 Chan, Christian & N. S. Tang, Kristen & Hall, Brian & Y. T. Yip,
Sammy & Maggay, Melba. (2016). Psychological Sequelae of the 2013
Super Typhoon Haiyan Among Survivor-Responders. Psychiatry
Interpersonal & Biological Processes. 79. 282 - 296.
10.1080/00332747.2015.1129874.
 Santos, Carlos & Toda, Luigi & Orduna, Justine & Santos, Filipe &
Ferrão, João. (2015). The impacts of Typhoon Haiyan in the
Philippines: Implications to land use planning. Climate, Disaster and
Development Journal. 1. 57-66. 10.18783/cddj.v001.i01.a06.
 https://www.europe-
solidaire.org/spip.php?article30501&fbclid=IwAR0b1r6cyKq2UtsHcdIt
xrXYAsrIRs2b-Nxuk_EAZSoaI5RhH4BUy81i4ag
 https://trixiamontes.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/economic-political-and-
social-effects-of-super-typhoon-
yolanda/?fbclid=IwAR1tOXAK2Vra9NQaEnXSKcjnXzfhEMyBxLRkty
63w71nD4GGyxRpDtKc-WE
 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/11.11.13-
SuperTyphoonYolanda_HaiyanFactSheet01.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3VvDqv
SLigZsHxgmRytrp8svra1byzZ34Sdtz4ooplWncu3gu9DrVtY8s
 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianrespo
nse.info/files/assessments/EFA%20Environmental%20Assessment%20
June%202014.pdf
 http://d2lq12osnvd5mn.cloudfront.net/SS_yolanda.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1J
8TqE2zolWJNexWzVZaBGv-AnkCFScwImus-
GWu5BFeLZfI0jRFLllok
 http://ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/1329/FINAL_REPORT_re_E
ffects_of_Typhoon_YOLANDA_(HAIYAN)_06-
09NOV2013.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3SBub7tgxqpm3FP7st0VfTzg-
wH2fiBL72tinkY0bIkb1EM393GsHVRdQ

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  http://repositorio.ul.pt/bitstream/10451/22666/1/ICS_JFerrao_Impacts
_ARI.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0AAspMQXhVHZbtS4VEx0VkphNb5N7wWV
mLNNMLXw6hHNwk-e6VDEG9WDQ
 https://give2asia.org/looking-back-typhoon-
yolanda/?fbclid=IwAR014a-
Lpm69f8PkRwVDZzsTejmKJ1yFLNBbvyUQ9XimIKTwZ8F-EVJ87-c

 Salazar MA, Law R, Pesigan A, Winkler V. Health Consequences of

Typhoon Haiyan in the Eastern Visayas Region Using a Syndromic
Surveillance Database. PLOS Currents Disasters. 2017 Feb 6 . Edition
1. doi: 10.1371/currents.dis.4a3d3b4474847b2599aa5c5eefe3a621

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