The Local’s Thriving Faith After Haiyan

Photo by the Philippine Information Agency

How is the island after the devastating typhoon?

Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) left a mark of devastation to the municipalities that are still evident up ’til now. It’s already been more than a year since the Category 5 typhoon directly hit the island causing damages to properties and stealing lives of some Bantayanons, and yet the recovery process has not been so brisk. The national and local government as well as some local and international NGOs conducted relief operations to the affected areas and households, but not everyone were lucky enough to receive the goods and financial aids on a timely manner.

The Local Government Units (LGU) together with its people are still calling in the attention of the national government, specifically the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to hasten the distribution of aid to the affected families in the remote areas and help rebuild their lives the soonest possible. On a good note, however, a relocation program is currently being implemented by the local government of Bantayan and Gawad Kalinga. More and more colorful houses are being built for the remaining affected families to be relocated.

Photo by Photoblogger Elroy

Through an Eco-Voluntourism event organized by DENR-7, the LGU of Bantayan, Cebu Blogging Community (CBC) and Philippine Information Agency-Cebu in partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Bantayan Chapter, Bantayan Island Association of Hotels, Resort, Bars and Restaurants, and Nature’s Legacy, Hotels-In-Cebu.com was able to lend a hand to the house building project in addition to the opportunity of gathering the information mentioned here.

Although Bantayan Island has not yet fully recovered from the typhoon, the Bantayanons have remained cheerful and light-hearted in re-building their lives and moving forward to the future. A true inspiration of faithful and hopeful spirits after a calamity.