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TYPHOON HAIYAN

A Tale of Relief and Recovery

By Asian Development Bank

November 7^th, 2018

In the early morning of 8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck the central Philippines. With winds of more than 300 km per hour, this was one of the strongest storms ever recorded to hit land. The trail of devastation left behind was immense: more than 6,000 lives were lost and more than 13 million people affected. A total of nearly 1 million homes were destroyed or damaged.

A total of 20,000 classrooms were destroyed or damaged in the Eastern Visayas region, along with 400 health centers. This is an enormous challenge for the agencies involved in reconstruction.

studying under a tent

For months, students were taught in tents and makeshift classrooms, sitting in chairs and desks salvaged from the site. The tents could become extremely hot during the day, and the children had no proper toilets or wash areas.

Building a future

Five years after Typhoon Haiyan , the recovery effort is bearing fruit. At the Bislig Elementary School in Tanauan, Leyte, ADB financed the construction of three classrooms through the implementing agency, the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The new classrooms are spacious and have separate toilets for girls and boys and a wash area where children can proudly take part in a toothbrush program. Above all, the classrooms are far more solid and secure than the old ones.

A day in the life of honeylette

For many students at Bislig Elementary School, like Honeylette Molina, studying is now less difficult. Her typical day begins early. She is up at 6 a.m. to prepare for school, which starts an hour later. The school is not far, just a 5-minute walk from home.

“Now that our classroom has been repaired things are better and we find it easier to study,” says Honeylette. Perhaps inspired by the work done at the school, she wants to become an engineer and build houses when she grows up.

HONEYLETTE MOLINA, 12 YEARS OLD

classrooms of hope

The students’ performance has greatly improved since the new classrooms were handed over to the school, says Grade 6 teacher Villa Quizol. The children are more attentive and focused, as they clearly enjoy the new classrooms.

The school curriculum includes math, science, English, Filipino, arts, home economics, and general knowledge. When asked what their favorite subject is, most students shout enthusiastically: “Science!”.

WILMA BAYAYA, PRINCIPAL OF BISLIG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Green shoots of recovery

Bislig Elementary School is a successful example of how to recover from a major natural disaster that hit a vulnerable community. A lot remains to be done though, both in Bislig and beyond. With 20,000 classrooms destroyed or damaged throughout the region, building them back better will require some time. Similarly, rebuilding and upgrading critical infrastructure and restoring livelihoods for local communities is a long term project that will take years.

A new tomorrow

For the children of Bislig Elementary School in Tanauan, a new life has begun. Typhoon Haiyan did not dent their hopes of a better future. Now it’s time to make sure that the future for them lives up to their expectations.

Footnotes

Images by Biggs Javellana. Text by Giovanni Verlini. Words and Music by Nono Pardalis; Arranged and Performed by Chris Carandang and Datu Arellano (https://soundcloud.com/penumbra-music-collective)

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FootNotes

Images by Biggs Javellana. Text by Giovanni Verlini. Words and Music by Nono Pardalis; Arranged and Performed by Chris Carandang and Datu Arellano (https://soundcloud.com/penumbra-music-collective)