Since 2013 consecutive typhoons left massive damages in the Philippines; starting from Yolanda (Haiyan), the strongest typhoon ever recorded to hit, followed closely by Typhoon Glenda (Ramassun) in 2014. Both forces led to massive losses in agriculture, housing, and other infrastructures leaving many communities distraught, including Quezon Province. In response to this, the Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center—a community-based disaster management NGO that has been extending service and support to people and communities most vulnerable to disasters—conducted relief delivery operations (RDOs) with the help of various people’s organizations (POs) to 30 barangays from 12 municipalities in Quezon including Catanauan. In December 6, 2014, another typhoon—Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), ravaged through Southern Tagalog affecting many farming and fishing communities. Many people anticipated Typhoon Ruby with dread, terrified that it may be another huge disaster. Hence, preemptive and forced evacuations were conducted especially in communities where it was expected to pass. A total of 12,970 families were affected by Typhoon Ruby. In Catanauan, Quezon electric power was interrupted by strong winds and rain affecting 647 families. Agricultural crops, which have not yet recovered from Typhoon Glenda (Ramassun) the previous year, were, again, damaged. Due to the relatively slow movement of Typhoon Ruby, tremendous […]
