philippines: rehabilitation of typhoon- affected...

Philippines: Rehabilitation of Typhoon-Affected Elementary Schools in Northern Cebu

Interim Report

For the attention of CERN Staff Association

Donation CHF 17’000

Duration 01.05.2014 - 31.04.2016

Project number P140090

Project target Rehabilitation of 80 classrooms in 7 elementary schools on

Bantayan and Kinatarkan islands, Northern Cebu, Philippines

Target group Over 4’000 students in 7 elementary schools

Reporting period 01.05.2014 - 31.04.2015

Project responsible Mandy Zeckra, Tel. 041 419 23 91; [email protected]

Contact person Nadja Zgraggen, Tel. 041 419 24 63; [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Project context: Background information

Super-typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines on 8 November 2013 as the strongest storm ever recorded at

landfall. It cut a swath of destruction across the Visayas, the central part of the Philippines. The Government of

the Philippines (GPH) reported 16 million people as affected by the disaster. 4.4 million people were

displaced; out of these, 400’000 temporarily moved to 1’500 evacuation centers such as schools, health

centers and barangay halls. The latest publications from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Council (NDRRMC) mention over 7’000 fatalities. The strong typhoon and resulting storm-surges

affected more than 1 million houses, about half of which have been completely destroyed.

The education sector suffered heavily from typhoon Haiyan: thousands of schools were destroyed, with an

impact on millions of students. In Cebu Province alone, the storm damaged 2’400 classrooms according to the

Department of Education (DepEd). Because of the lack of classrooms, still today, over one and a half years

after Haiyan, many classes take place in makeshift buildings or outside. Many learning spaces still have to be

shared between different grades, and classes take place in shortened shifts with extensive effects on the

pupils’ education. As especially in rural areas the schools are often the only large and relatively safe public

buildings, they can serve an additional important function in the community as evacuation centers, which

makes their rehabilitation even more crucial.

Caritas started its relief activities immediately after typhoon Haiyan hit the Visayas on 8 November. Together

with local partner organizations, Caritas implemented relief distribution projects covering over 23’000 families

with much needed food and non-food relief items such as rice, beans, sugar, canned goods as well as

tarpaulins, nails, ropes, hygiene articles, flashlights and buckets. With this immediate support, the affected

population was able to recover in the first weeks and months after the disaster.

In continuation of Caritas’ relief efforts, a project was initiated to address elementary school rehabilitation on

Bantayan and Kinatarkan islands in Northern Cebu to further support the affected population. Caritas carried

out multiple assessments to identify the needs of communities not covered by the Government of the

Philippines or other national or international actors. Consequently, 7 elementary schools in the Barangays1 of

Bunakan, Hagdan, Kaongkod, Malbago, Mancilang, Pili and Talangnan were identified, which were heavily

affected by the typhoon and not covered by any other actor. In these 7 schools, Caritas is repairing and

reconstructing 80 classrooms for over 4’000 students. The map below shows the location of the villages on

Bantayan and Kinatarkan islands targeted by Caritas.

1 The administrative divisions in the Philippines are, from the highest to the lowest division: Autonomous regions; provinces and

independent cities; municipalities and component cities; and Barangays. On Bantayan, a Barangay typically comprises 200-800 households. Barangays are further composed of sitios or purok, that are clusters of around 50 houses.

Project progress and results

Now, 12 months after the start of the project, the reconstruction activities are well underway. The schools on

Bantayan and Kinatarkan islands consist of several buildings housing 1 to 4 classrooms each. End of May

2015, 14 classrooms were already rehabilitated providing safe and appropriate learning spaces in 4 out of

the 7 targeted communities. By April 2016, all 80 classrooms in the 7 elementary schools will be

rehabilitated.

The rehabilitated buildings will be typhoon and earthquake resistant. To achieve this goal, Caritas developed

new construction designs based on those from the Department of Education (DepEd), that are again

submitted and approved by DepEd. The most prominent change to the school designs is that some buildings

will be reconstructed as two-storey, as there is only limited safe construction land available at the school

sites and student numbers are growing.

Caritas is implementing a holistic approach to school reconstruction, which means that in addition to the

provision of safe learning spaces, following components are included in the project scope:

Trainings in safe construction techniques for local workers: Caritas’ assessments showed that

people engaged in construction in the target area – usually ‘carpenters’ with or without formal

education – lack skills and knowledge in safe construction techniques. A training concept was

developed for the locally recruited skilled and unskilled workers to improve their knowledge and skills

in safe construction. Two types of trainings are being held: theoretical sessions are conducted to

provide the workers with the necessary know-how in safe building techniques to carry out their tasks

skillfully and with confidence. In addition, on-the-job trainings are organized before and during

important construction steps; for example before work on the foundations begins, practical

presentations and instruction sessions are held directly on site. By April 2015, 128 locally recruited

workers had been trained in this manner.

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): further essential components are appropriate toilet

facilities that need to be rebuilt in all schools. Specifically, existing toilets are being repaired where

possible, sufficient new toilets are rebuilt in accordance with the number of pupils and teachers and

based on international standards, and water connections as well as hand-washing facilities are being

restored. In addition, rainwater-harvesting systems are being rehabilitated at the schools and

hygiene promotion campaigns are being carried out. A dedicated WASH-Team has been recruited

and is working with the schools in identifying and implementing appropriate WASH solutions.

School maintenance: as a further measure to increase the resilience of the targeted communities,

Caritas is elaborating maintenance plans with them. As the schools serve not only as education

facilities but also as emergency shelters, the reconstruction and maintenance of schools has an

impact on the communities as a whole. The maintenance plans are taking into account the financial

and technical capacities of the school boards and communities, and are establishing clear roles and

responsibilities of the relevant people such as caretakers, teachers and parents.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): DRR plans are also being developed, that focus on what to do

before, during and after an emergency. Because schools are part of the few large and solid buildings

on Bantayan and Kinatarkan islands, they are used as emergency shelters during typhoons. With the

DRR plans, the communities will know how to utilize the school buildings appropriately as

emergency shelters. Caritas has therefore mitigated a cooperation with the University of San Carlos

in Cebu City to develop DRR furniture for the schools. This furniture can be used during regular

school sessions and then converted into space-saving shelves assisting the evacuating families

during typhoons. Also, cooking facilities are integrated in the school design. During the Typhoon

Hagupit/Ruby, which hit Bantayan and Kinatarkan islands in December 2014, many school buildings,

even if not yet fully rehabilitated, already served as evacuation centers (see photo gallery attached).

Other related projects

Caritas continues to support the affected communities beyond the rehabilitation of elementary schools. In

July 2015, Caritas will start an additional construction project supporting 750 most vulnerable families in

rebuilding their homes in a typhoon and earthquake resistant manner in several Barangays on Bantayan and

Kinatarkan islands. As Caritas puts strong emphasis on ownership and capacity building of the targeted

families, the new houses will be built by the beneficiaries themselves with close support from the Caritas’

technical team. Caritas developed locally appropriate construction designs and will provide beneficiaries with

required funds to procure materials and hire local workers to rebuild their homes. Caritas is also providing

training to the beneficiaries in construction and financial management and training to local workers in safe

construction techniques.

In this way, 750 families will have a typhoon and earthquake resilient house, as well as improved capacities

in construction and financial management. Furthermore, local builders will know about safe construction and

appropriate materials, with a positive impact well beyond the duration of this housing project or of Caritas’

overall Haiyan response programme.

Funding

Next to the generous contribution of CERN’s Staff Association, the current project is financially supported by

Swiss Solidarity, CAFOD and Trocaire (Caritas Switzerland’s sister organizations in England and Wales as

well as Ireland) in addition to the generous contributions from the Swiss population.

The project is successfully underway. Caritas Switzerland would like to thank you for your generous donation

for its support to the typhoon Haiyan’s affected people in the Philippines. Caritas will continue to support

communities affected by natural and man-made disasters thanks to you.

Caritas Switzerland

Mandy Zeckra

Senior Programme Manager, Philippines

Appendix

Photo documentation

As part of the project’s progress documentation, Caritas national and international staff are taking photographs

when visiting the construction sites or attending training sessions for the local workers. During Typhoon

Hagupit/Ruby, which hit the Visayas in December 2014, Caritas’ social delegate stayed on Bantayan and

witnessed evacuation procedures of the communities to one of the elementary schools being rehabilitated by

Caritas.

Further photo documentations can be found on Caritas’ flickr account through these links:

Rehabilitation activities of Caritas Switzerland in Northern Cebu:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/caritas_ch/sets/72157646717823253/

Relief projects of Caritas Switzerland after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines:




Rehabilitation activities on school buildings of the elementary schools supported by Caritas

Switzerland

Repair works on a school building in Pili elementary school

New construction techniques in use

Demolition of a completely destroyed school building

Working on the roof of a partially damaged building

Laying the foundations on a new construction site

Children still using temporary learning spaces

A soon to be completed building

A completely rehabilitated building

Training of local workers, in theoretical sessions and on the job

Local wokers in a learning session

Applying the newly acquired skills

Elementary schools on Bantayan island being used as evacuation centers (during Typhoon Ruby in

December 2014)

Community members gathering in front of a school building before the typhoon

Personal belongings stored during the typhoon

Waiting it out…

Children resting on makeshift beds

Children playing to pass the time

After the storm has passed

philippines: rehabilitation of typhoon- affected...

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