A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*
Jan. 12, 2010

When typhoons brought flooding to the Philippines last fall, the waters destroyed crops along with homes.

That’s why 1,600 farming families will receive packets of seeds through the United Methodist Committee on Relief as part of its long-term recovery effort with Action by Churches Together International.

Rice and vegetable seeds – for tomatoes, string beans, eggplant, okra, cucumbers, radishes, carrots – will help provide self-sufficiency. Corn seeds will feed both animals and the growing market for sweet yellow ears.

Becoming a part of the ACT response has helped the United Methodist relief agency leverage additional funds to expand its reach. “It not only gives us access; it formalizes our partnerships with other groups in the Philippines,” explained Melissa Crutchfield, the executive who coordinates the agency’s international response.

Those other groups include ACT members Christian Aid, Lutheran World Relief and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

In late September and October, four typhoons—Ketsana, Parma, Lupit and Mirinae—hit the Philippines, leaving more than a thousand dead and an estimated 1.3 million people displaced..

United Methodist Bishop Leo A. Soriano, episcopal leader of the Davao Area, pointed to the loss of loved ones, homes, crops and livestock, adding that many people “have no livelihood.” The flooding affected more than 200,000 United Methodists in 1,372 local churches.

The ‘greatest’ need

UMCOR’s relief efforts touch on what Bishop Lito Cabacungan Tangonan of Manila called the “greatest” need of the Filipino people – “rehabilitation programs for their destroyed houses, livelihood, rice and vegetable farms.”

The day-to-day work has been managed by the UMCOR Philippines office, led by Ciony Eduarte. With the help of church workers, volunteers and other partners, United Methodists distributed about1,850 food and non-food item relief packages in the Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal provinces by Dec. 1.

“The ultimate goal of the response is to provide aid and assistance to the most vulnerable survivors of typhoons Ketsana and Parma in hopes of alleviating or protecting them from current and impending health, social, emotional, livelihoods and financial problems,” noted UMCOR’s report.

In addition to the seed distribution, another 100 families will receive boats to improve fishing capabilities and provide transportation.

Micro-credit loans will be offered to 850 flood-affected families to re-start small businesses, including those who manufacture or sell shoes, sandals and bags. Some 440 families will receive construction materials to repair damaged houses and storage sheds and build relocation centers or temporary shelters. Other participants will receive business-related training.

United Methodist-related local partners

United Methodist-related institutions working with UMCOR in its recovery efforts include Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation Inc., a social development institution focused on the poor, and the Asuncion A. Perez Memorial Center Inc., a charitable organization. Union Theological Seminary is providing psycho-social assistance to those traumatized by the typhoons.

A $40,000 grant from UMCOR partner Muslim Aid, and in-kind contributions of water-purification tablets, units and filters from GlobalMedic, a Canadian-based emergency response organization, will support additional relief activities not covered under the ACT appeal.

United Methodists also will “benefit from some additional disaster capacity training” through Lutheran World Relief, Crutchfield said.

The United Methodist Church is using two avenues of collecting donations for relief and recovery work in the Philippines. Donations to UMCOR’s humanitarian work can be made through Philippines Emergency, UMCOR Advance #240235.

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Funds collected through the Churchwide Appeal for Philippines Disasters, issued by the Council of Bishops, will be used both for humanitarian and church-related efforts, such as rebuilding facilities and assisting with pastors’ salaries and other local church needs, at the direction of the bishops in the Philippines.

Donations to the appeal can be made directly through local churches. Conference treasurers will forward contributions to the General Council on Finance and Administration No. 818-002-PHP. In addition, givers can donate online at umcappeal.org.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

Video

Philippines Typhoon

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Resources

The Churchwide Appeal for Philippines Disasters

UMCOR

Action by Churches Together

National Council of Churches, Philippines