The LaNd Fall

On the 15th of September 2018, the 900 km-wide Typhoon Mangkhut, locally named as Ompong, made its landfall in Baggao, Cagayan. Mangkhut is a Category 4 typhoon that wreaked havoc to Northern and Central Luzon and left a trail of destruction in its path with its strong winds and torrential rains. Over 3 million individuals residing in largely agricultural lands were affected by major landslides, flooding, destruction of properties, leaving about 70 fatalities and 130 injured.

A massive damage in agriculture registering as the highest damage since Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013 placed at Php35 billion, further enhanced the problem of food insecurity in the affected regions. Typhoon Mangkhut also came at a time when the country is experiencing a significant increase in inflation rates (6.4% in August), thus adding more burden to thealready impoverished,disaster-affected communities.

It is in this crucial circumstance that hope sheds light the brightest. Through amplifying the voices of the disaster affected populations, defining priorities from contextualized humanitarian needs, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerabilities of the communities, and building partnerships and promoting collective local action; the ecumenical response of ACT Alliance seeks to save lives committed to the core humanitarian standards where people is put first.

With this document, we share and celebrate stories of hope that is embodied in the action of churches and local communities together. In retrospect, we'll continue to learn from the successes, as well as, challenges from the ACT response which we hope would foster lessons of selfless and compassionate service - which leaves no one behind.