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It’s been one month since super typhoon Odette/Rai made landfall in the Philippines. Your generous donations have allowed our team to provide relief aid in north Siargao, among the worst hit areas of typhoon Rai. In the first two weeks following Rai, we allocated a portion of the funds raised for immediate aid, with a focus on purchasing and transporting medicine and medical supplies for 3 northern municipalities. Our team has since shifted to food relief with efforts and funds put towards the development of community kitchens. This week, we are happy to announce the launch of two community kitchens: Kolekbibo community kitchen and Nature Kids of Siargao’s meal program for children. The former provides ~1000 nutritious meals a day to local communities. The latter provides nutritious meals for poor and vulnerable children in a kid-friendly venue. Both kitchens are key to enhancing food security and food nutrition, while also providing income-generating opportunities for local residents. Moving forward, funds from this fundraiser will continue to support the operation and expansion of these community kitchens.
Recorded as one of the strongest typhoons in 2021, the category 5 storm was catastrophic, especially in the northern region of Siargao Island where our friends, families and neighbours live. With life essentials stripped, many private groups, including our own, quickly mobilised immediate relief aid. We focused our relief efforts in the north, which was among the most vulnerable areas. Transport of goods was slow due to weather and damage on and surrounding the island. Although numerous groups, NGO’s, and the government are providing aid, local residents of Siargao are still in survival mode, lacking shelter, food and basic needs. Initial allocation of funds has been used to purchase medicines and medical supplies, while the majority of raised funds will be used towards medium to long term relief, including the development and management of community kitchens. We are proud to announce the launch of Kolekbibo, a mobile community kitchen we built with initial funding has been running for nearly one week, and will continue to feed thousands of people in need.
Status update of north Siargao:
- Access to clean water is still limited, and at a cost, which excludes many families living at the poverty line.
Risk of illness due to unclean water is high.
- Electricity is still down in the north, yet areas in the south of the island have power. Many families have received solar lamps, and generators are being used for immediate needs.
- Main streets have been cleared of debris throughout the island, making travel possible to the north; however, many side and community streets are not drivable.
- With only a few areas with signal, communication has been intermittent, making it very challenging to communicate with those on the ground.
- Staying dry and cooking is a constant challenge due to poor weather. It’s only the beginning of the rainy season, and heavy rains and more storms are expected through to March.
- Shared resources, information and contacts has improved planning and procurement as various NGOs and independent groups are learning of each other’s relief aid initiatives and banning together.
North Siargao still receives limited relief aid following typhoon Rai, and basic necessities are lean to none. Mid- to long-term aid will focus on strengthening communities by providing healthy nutritious meals to poor and vulnerable families and children. With funds raised and through a joint partnership with Nature Kids of Siargao and World Central Kitchen, we plan to continue to operate Kolekbibo Community Kitchen, a mobile community kitchen serving vulnerable areas in the north, with a focus on communities in Santa Monica municipality.
This initiative aims to:
- Feed upwards of 6,000 meals per week
- Create income generating opportunities by employing 10+ local residents
- Support the local economy by purchasing groceries on the island as much as possible
The estimated cost to run the community kitchen is P85,000 per week ($2,100 CAD), including costs for food, transportation and staff salaries.
How you can help!
Your donation will directly support the Kolekbibo Community Kitchen. Funds will be used to purchase food ingredients, provide salaries for locals, transportation for food distribution, and other cooking equipment needs.
With your donation we’ll continue to serve gaps in food relief. We will keep you updated, be transparent and ensure funds are directly donated to support the needs of the people in the north of Siargao. Our home.
Thank you for your love, compassion and generosity. We will rebuild together.
Alessia, Michelle, and Tyler (Northern Siargao residents currently located in Canada.)
Follow our team’s work in Siargao on Instagram Kolekbibo
Initial Post on December 20
Siargao, a small tropical island off the south east coast of the Philippines, is devastated by Super typhoon Rai/ Odette. What started as a category 2 storm quickly escalated within 24 hours into a category 5 super typhoon, the highest level of severity similar to typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and Katrina in 2005. It's heartbreaking. Due to the catastrophic aftermath, life essentials have been stripped. Our friends, family and the people of Siargao need help. We are raising relief aid that will directly support the vulnerable northern communities of Siargao island where our friends, family, and neighbours reside.
Recorded as one of the strongest typhoons in 2021, the category 5 storm was catastrophic, especially in the northern region of Siargao Island where our friends, families and neighbours live. With life essentials stripped, many private groups, including our own, quickly mobilised immediate relief aid. We focused our relief efforts in the north, which was among the most vulnerable areas. Transport of goods was slow due to weather and damage on and surrounding the island. Although numerous groups, NGO’s, and the government are providing aid, local residents of Siargao are still in survival mode, lacking shelter, food and basic needs. Initial allocation of funds has been used to purchase medicines and medical supplies, while the majority of raised funds will be used towards medium to long term relief, including the development and management of community kitchens. We are proud to announce the launch of Kolekbibo, a mobile community kitchen we built with initial funding has been running for nearly one week, and will continue to feed thousands of people in need.
Status update of north Siargao:
- Access to clean water is still limited, and at a cost, which excludes many families living at the poverty line.
Risk of illness due to unclean water is high.
- Electricity is still down in the north, yet areas in the south of the island have power. Many families have received solar lamps, and generators are being used for immediate needs.
- Main streets have been cleared of debris throughout the island, making travel possible to the north; however, many side and community streets are not drivable.
- With only a few areas with signal, communication has been intermittent, making it very challenging to communicate with those on the ground.
- Staying dry and cooking is a constant challenge due to poor weather. It’s only the beginning of the rainy season, and heavy rains and more storms are expected through to March.
- Shared resources, information and contacts has improved planning and procurement as various NGOs and independent groups are learning of each other’s relief aid initiatives and banning together.
North Siargao still receives limited relief aid following typhoon Rai, and basic necessities are lean to none. Mid- to long-term aid will focus on strengthening communities by providing healthy nutritious meals to poor and vulnerable families and children. With funds raised and through a joint partnership with Nature Kids of Siargao and World Central Kitchen, we plan to continue to operate Kolekbibo Community Kitchen, a mobile community kitchen serving vulnerable areas in the north, with a focus on communities in Santa Monica municipality.
This initiative aims to:
- Feed upwards of 6,000 meals per week
- Create income generating opportunities by employing 10+ local residents
- Support the local economy by purchasing groceries on the island as much as possible
The estimated cost to run the community kitchen is P85,000 per week ($2,100 CAD), including costs for food, transportation and staff salaries.
How you can help!
Your donation will directly support the Kolekbibo Community Kitchen. Funds will be used to purchase food ingredients, provide salaries for locals, transportation for food distribution, and other cooking equipment needs.
With your donation we’ll continue to serve gaps in food relief. We will keep you updated, be transparent and ensure funds are directly donated to support the needs of the people in the north of Siargao. Our home.
Thank you for your love, compassion and generosity. We will rebuild together.
Alessia, Michelle, and Tyler (Northern Siargao residents currently located in Canada.)
Follow our team’s work in Siargao on Instagram Kolekbibo
Initial Post on December 20
Siargao, a small tropical island off the south east coast of the Philippines, is devastated by Super typhoon Rai/ Odette. What started as a category 2 storm quickly escalated within 24 hours into a category 5 super typhoon, the highest level of severity similar to typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and Katrina in 2005. It's heartbreaking. Due to the catastrophic aftermath, life essentials have been stripped. Our friends, family and the people of Siargao need help. We are raising relief aid that will directly support the vulnerable northern communities of Siargao island where our friends, family, and neighbours reside.
What we know:
- Super typhoon Rai (Odette) made landfall on Siargao Island on Thursday, December 16 with sustained winds of 195 km/h and gusts of up to 270km/h, blowing off roofs, uprooting trees and cutting off power and communication lines in central provinces.
- Typhoon Rai (Odette) crossed the southern and central Philippines on December 16, 2021, having intensified to category 5 strength just hours before landfall. Locally named Odette, the storm was one of the strongest recorded on Earth this year and the sixth to reach category 5.
- The north communities are very slowly receiving aid. Southern areas close to entry points have received the most support. In the north there is little food, water, and no electricity. Homes are gone or 80% demolished. Looting is starting to happen. Due to the distance from entry points, and the delayed clearing of roads, distribution and travel to the north has been slow. Although clear now, roads are full of debris and sand. Transportation is done with caution. These low income, rural, remote villages that lack capacity and resources are living in catastrophic conditions.
- Limited communication: All lines of communication were cut off since noon on December 16 (local time). Since December 20 there is signal in Del Carmen (20+ km from norther communities), and a few satellite phones are being used for distribution. Mass communication is still down.
- First aid relief goods are being prepared and brought to the island and medical teams are beginning to get set up, but more will be needed.
What we don't know:
Initial assessments indicated flooding, road closures, power interruptions, and communication interruptions. As updates from the ground come in it's apparent that the situation is dire. Health and survival is the goal. There will be a long aftermath of rebuilding infrastructure, local houses, and secure safe food and water sources.
Initial assessments indicated flooding, road closures, power interruptions, and communication interruptions. As updates from the ground come in it's apparent that the situation is dire. Health and survival is the goal. There will be a long aftermath of rebuilding infrastructure, local houses, and secure safe food and water sources.
"The full picture is only just starting to emerge, but it is clear there is widespread devastation," said Alberto Bocanegra, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Philippines.
How you can help!
While we wait anxiously for more updates and better communication lines to open with friends and family on the ground, we kindly ask for your donation. Proceeds will go directly to essential goods, medical supplies, shelters, among others! Many groups have begun emergency relief aid. We are working together as a team with friends on the ground and friends in the Philippines off island to get aid to the people. With your donation our intention is to serve any gaps in need. We will keep you updated, be transparent and ensure funds are directly donated to support the needs of the people in the north of Siargao. Our home.
Thank you for your love, compassion and generosity. We will rebuild together.
Alessia, Michelle, and Tyler (Northern Siargao residents currently located in Canada.)
GoFundMe requirements:
The relationship we have with the people receiving the funds: These are our friends, family, neighbors who live in the north communities of Siargao.
The relationship we have with the people receiving the funds: These are our friends, family, neighbors who live in the north communities of Siargao.
How we'll send funds to the people: Funds will be sent from Michelle Villarosa's bank account to the bank accounts of the ground team in the Philippines. They will use these funds to purchase relief aid goods such as food, water, shelter, medical, and more depending on the specific immediate and longer term needs of the people. Due to the dynamic nature of the disaster, we act on the communities' priorities and what other relief groups are distributing. For example, this week of Dec. 20 shelter and medicine are high priorities due to rain and increasing sickness according to the local doctor on the ground and our ground team assessments.
