Shared Dreams

Buklod Pangarap Village, Cardona, Rizal

22 December 2010

by beng d. sta.clara

I spent my first day of vacation leave in a resettlement area for Ondoy victim-survivors.
It was a sunny Wednesday noon (22 December) and the villagers of “Buklod Pangarap”
were busy setting up the area for the formal turnover of the transition shelters. The
adults cleaned up the pathways and arranged the platform [they actually designed the
motif] and chairs. The children are practicing their song and dance numbers. The LGU
partners particularly the social welfare officers and municipal employees were focused
on the registration, area setup, food and drinks.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the local government of
Cardona, Rizal officially handed over 73 transitional shelter units to families who have
lost their homes during the 2009 typhoons. Through the funding support of the
European Commission through its Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and in close
partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, families who have
been displaced for over a year received new shelters in time for 2010 Christmas.

The construction of transitional shelters is part of the IOM’s Typhoon Emergency

Response Programme (TERP). In October 2009, TERP was launched as a response to the

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series of typhoons that devastated Luzon. Through this project, IOM was able to deliver
essential non-food items, shelter kits and medical services to the most affected families
in Rizal. Prioritized in this service delivery was the most vulnerable in the communities
such as the poorest of the poor with female-headed households, families with elderly
individuals, people with disabilities and with the most number of children.

In consultation with the LGU and the DSWD as well as field validations, 73 families were
selected to benefit from the transition shelter and livelihood assistance of the IOM-
TERP. Each family received a fully painted shelter unit with its own toilet and bath in a
row house setting. Built with coco lumber, GI sheets for roofing, and cement flooring
with foundation, each unit is 22.5 square meters and is designed to last up to three
years. The LGU identified the land and primarily responsible for the land acquisition for
the transition shelters. Social preparation including basic leadership training was
undertaken by IOM for all project sites.

Livelihood assistance was also part of the TERP. IOM-ECHO recognized the additional
vulnerability in living in transit sites, each beneficiary-family was provided with small
business start up capital or in-kind grant to help them improve their household income.
All beneficiaries completed a livelihood training focused on basic business management
and savings mobilization under IOM’s tutelage.

The ceremonial program highlighted the partnership ties. The emceeing tasks were
shared between the LGU and IOM, and the inspirational messages also included the
leaders of beneficiaries aside from the provincial and municipal LGU officials (Gov.
Ynares, Vice Gov. San Juan, Mayor San Juan and Bgy Capt. Alejandro), congressional
district representative (Rep. Rodriguez), and the line agencies such as DSWD (Dir.
Macuto), LLDA representatives and the OCD Region IV-A (Dir. Tomazar). ECHO was
represented by its Manila Programme Officer Arlynn Aquino who noted the importance
of the beneficiaries’ acceptance of the assistance. IOM - TERP Coordinator Dave
Bercasio intoned the extraordinary cooperation from the line agencies and the LGUs of
Rizal which facilitated the project implementation. IOM Chief of Mission Ovais Sarmad
emphasized gratitude to all the partners including the beneficiaries for making the
project successful.

The LGUs dwelled on having a common vision for the Rizal poor and marginalized
constituents, and the huge challenge of rebuilding communities after the two major
typhoons of 2009. They implored IOM and other supporters to continue their
involvement in Rizal’s development.

The 73 family-beneficiaries through their female and male leaders, in-between tears of
joys, thanked both the government and the international community for helping them
rebuild their lives and their homes. On the same day, the elected leaders of the “Buklod
Pangarap” Village took their oaths before Mayor San Juan. They all committed
themselves to making their own community a peaceful and healthy environment.

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The children-beneficiaries also had the opportunity to express their thanks to all the
project partners via a song. They sang “Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” in the ceremonial
program. And various dances by age groups were performed after the officers’ oath-
taking. A community (Christmas) party ensued with the beneficiaries giving certificates
of appreciation to the project partners particularly the social welfare officers and IOM-
TERP field staff.

Photo L-R: Mayor San Juan, Rep. Rodriguez, Mr Sarmad, Mr Orcajada, Gov. Ynares, Ms Aquino; children-benef singing
The party ended with the community cleaning up and claiming their gifts particularly the
transition shelters in glee. The moon is up in a clear night sky.

In a span of 15 months, hopes, dreams, local partnerships and concerted efforts made
Buklod Pangarap in Rizal. This is a feat worth celebrating and replicating to make the
world a better place for all internally displaced persons (IDPs).

With invaluable gifts both from the project partners and beneficiaries, it is a merry
Christmas after all!