HAND-IN-HAND IN HABAGAT Calvin Chu Underwater world. That was the picture as torrential rains poured down on Metro Manila and nearby provinces for 8 consecutive days last August 2012. Houses submerged in flood waters. Cars rendered useless. People soaking wet and cold, waiting on rooftops for rescue boats. Schooling halted with public schools and other public infrastructures filled to the brim with people seeking shelter from the flooding. The rains were not due to a typhoon, but were brought about by a natural phenomenon called the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat in native tongue. It is an annual occurrence, but with the changes in climate resulting from years of mismanagement of the environment, this year proved to be catastrophic. According to data from PAGASA, 363.7mm of rainfall in a span of 24 hours (80% that of Ondoy) precipitated
the flash flooding that affected nearly a million families in the NCR, CALABARZON, and Region 3 provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, and Pampanga. With people forced to leave their homes, business operations interrupted for days, and farmlands in nearby provinces damaged, those who rely on day to day income for their living were left to rely on others for help. In less than a week, Care Caravan mobilized a relief operation, Project: Habagat. Packing was done in a warehouse of a sister in Christ, through her family's generosity. Packing around 3,200 canned goods, 16,000 packs of noodles, and 20,000 kg of rice individually would take a lot of time, and the goods were needed urgently.
PROJECT ZAMBOANGA On September 9, 2013, armed conflict between the government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) erupted. As the government and MNLF battled it out, civilians were caught in the middle. It took nearly three weeks before the government declared the crisis over. The conflict displaced thousands of families. Houses were destroyed, business brought to a standstill and families were forced to rely on relief goods for their survival. Care Caravan through Sis. Jane Joe of UECZ gave relief goods for 2,000 families in evacuation centers. As some of the victims were still living in evacuation centers last December, Care Caravan sent another batch of aid for 200 families through UECZ.
9