I. Saint Bernard Profile

Saint Bernard is a 4^th class municipality in Southern Leyte composed of 30 barangays. The municipality is an agricultural town that has a total population of 25,767 (Source: Saint Bernard Contingency Plan, July 2009).

The municipality is susceptible to multiple hazards as it is in the pacific coast and the province of Southern Leyte lies along the active Philippine Fault. Of the 30 barangays, 24 of them are prone to landslides. Meanwhile, the highly-silted Lawigan River makes the municipality vulnerable to floods.

After Guinsaugon landslide in February 17, 2006, Mines and Geosciences Bureau identified Barangays Sug-Angon, Ahayag, Nueva Esperanza, Tabontabon, Magatas, Hinabian, and Kauswagan as permanent high risk areas. Although residents of these areas are prohibited to go back to their homes, they still went back to tend their lands after food assistance in evacuation centers stopped on December 2006.

According to the Saint Bernard Contingency Plan, 17 out of 30 barangays are at risk to at least 5 hazards with Barangays Himbangan and Panian ranking first, being exposed to 8 natural hazards namely liquefaction, ground shaking, ground rupture, rain-induced flood, storm surge, earthquake-induced landslide, rain-induced landslide, and tsunami.

II. Situation Overview

As of January 2011, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council identified the following areas for permanent relocation due to recurring danger of floods and landslides:

• Some areas of Brgy. Tabon-tabon, Mahayag, Malinao, Tambis 1 and Ma. Socorro
• Portions of Brgy. Ma. Asuncion, Bolodbolod, Catmon, Hindag-an and Himbangan

Currently, at least 157 families from barangays Bolodbolod, Malinao, Mahayag, and Tabon-tabon are ordered evacuation until further notice. The MDRRMC advised evacuees from these areas to stay temporarily in the evacuation sites until they are relocated. The above-mentioned barangays are prone to landslides.

The residents of the 17 high-risk barangays affected by floods and landslides are given signal to return to their homes when the weather condition becomes fair but they are advised to be ready and stay alert.

III. CNDR Response

CNDR has mobilized ₱65,000-worth of cash donations from BPI Foundation, Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation, and SGV Foundation. Aside from that, CNDR also received in-kind donations from Coca-Cola Foundation, Manila Water Company, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB) and Zuellig Family Foundation

CNDR coordinated with the municipal government of Saint Bernard for the distribution of in-kind donations; meanwhile the cash donations received was utilized for emergency response operations. Currently, CNDR, with its member companies and foundations have served at least 921 affected families.

In-kind donations

Coca-Cola Foundation has donated 1,152 6-Liters bottles of Wilkins Distilled Water. On January 7, 2011, the potable water is delivered to 921 families from 12 barangays. The remaining 168 bottles were turned-over to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for distribution to other barangays.

Manila Water Company, Inc. transported their Potable Water Treatment Plant all the way from Albay to Saint Bernard. Their water treatment plant catered barangays where waterways are damaged by floods and landslides. They have also served at least 140 families staying at Catmon Old Church and PSAC dormitory.

Johnson & Johnson donated boxes of Johnson’s Pure Essential soaps and sanitary napkins. Initially, 157 families were given 2 boxes of soap each. The families who received the soaps were categorized by the municipality as their priority families. These were the same families who have been told to stay in evacuation center until further notice. The remaining soaps and sanitary napkins were turned over to municipality for further distribution to other affected families.

United Laboratories, Inc. has donated 80 boxes and 130 bottles of amoxicillin, 10 boxes of mucolytic drugs, 30 boxes and 60 bottles of salbutamol, 10 boxes of anti-diabetic drug, 10 boxes of hypolipidemic drug, 5 boxes of loperamide, 20 boxes of mefenamic acid, 130 bottles of paracetamol, 10 boxes of qualidopin, and 2000 tubes of anti-fungi cream which are received by the local government of Saint Bernard on January 19. The medicines were turned over to the municipal health office who will administer medicines to only those who need it.

The Zuellig Family Foundation donated 250 pieces of non-food packs containing water containers, cooking pots, mattresses, bed sheets, and mosquito nets. The 250 pcs. of Zuellig packs were initially disbursed to 157 families who are inside the evacuation centers since January 2, 2011. However, the water containers are not yet distributed. According to Vice Mayor Rachel Avendula, MDRRMC Vice Chairperson they do not want duplication of relief items as some of the priority families have already received water containers coming from various donors. Distribution of Zuellig items is still ongoing.

IV. Assessment of ER Operation and Other Issues

The existing partnership between CNDR and the local government units helped a lot in the emergency response. Emergency response is also easier because of the existing CNDR projects namely Advancing Safer Communities and Environments against Disaster (ASCEND) and Food Facility projects. The project staffs are able to identify community facilitators who were tapped during ER operations. These community facilitators are volunteers from the community.

Only three casualties were recorded because people were able to evacuate before the situation worsens. The casualties are from barangays that are not covered by CNDR community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) projects (ACCORD and ASCEND).

It also helped that some of the barangays have already re-structured their BDRRMC, so the roles of the barangay officials are definite during time of emergencies.

On the height of the disaster, the municipality does not have enough evacuation centers. Aside from that, they also lack relocation sites for those identified for permanent relocation.

There is also a need for the rehabilitation of drainage and water systems. On an all barangays meeting, out of the 9 barangays surveyed, 8 of them identified rehabilitation of water works system as a need for early recovery and/or for long-term assistance.

CNDR Project staff also noticed that there is a need for basic emergency tools such as hand-held radios, boots, and raincoats. Aside from that, the municipality also has scarce vehicles for transportation of evacuees.

On the other hand, the disaster situation became wake-up call for barangays not covered by CNDR’s CBDRM project to participate in Disaster Risk Reduction activities. They are now requesting for seminars/trainings regarding DRR.

The LGU is organizing a donor’s forum on February 17 in Saint Bernard. CNDR members are invited to join.

V. Appeal for Donation

CNDR would like to express its sincerest gratitude to its members who responded to our call and to those who initiated their own responses. Attached are the photos.

Once again, CNDR is calling for more responses. The municipality of Saint Bernard is still experiencing on and off flooding due to heavy rains. The extent of damage of this event will still be felt even after the disaster, as most of the victims’ livelihood resources are damaged by floods.

CNDR is mobilizing cash and in-kind donations. For more details or for donations, please contact Sarina Mae Garcia at (02)687-9228 or reply to this email.

You may also opt to coordinate with our Project Staff in St. Bernard. You may contact Jolly Anne Gibe at 0915-227-4569 or email her at jollyannegibe@gmail.com.

Prepared by:

Sarina Mae Garcia

Program Assistant for Emergency Response

Noted by:

Hilda T. Cleofe

Executive Director