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A close call with death: Surviving the Davao Oriental earthquake 

For 10 years, pastor Richard Macanas, 48, and his wife, Jovelyn, 39, have made their home in Baganga, Davao Oriental. While Richard serves his community, Jovelyn cares for their two young children.

Living near fault lines, the family has experienced several earthquakes.

“We are aware this place is prone to earthquake,” Richard said, “But we remained because this is where I serve in church, where we bought our house and [are] raising our children”.

This constant threat became a terrifying reality in 2023 when a major earthquake struck at night. It damaged their doorway, trapping a pregnant Jovelyn and their son inside. The experience left a lasting mark, making them fearful. They learned to monitor tsunami alerts and evacuation instructions, prepared “go-bags,” and taught their son what to do when an earthquake happens.

But nothing prepared them for the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck 9:43 a.m. on October 10. Jovelyn recalled tending to their one-year-old daughter when the ground shook violently. Their house began to crumble as she struggled to get out. Richard rushed inside the house while the ground was shaking, grabbed Jovelyn and their daughter and led them outside, just moments before their ceiling and roof collapsed.

The Macanas family’s house damaged by the earthquake in Baganga, Davao Oriental.
Richard Macanas looks at collapsed roof and the damage caused by the earthquake to their house.

“We could have died,” said Jovelyn.

Their relief was cut short by a new fear. Their son, Lynnch, eight, was still at school, and they didn’t know what had happened to him during the earthquake. Richard was about to run and fetch him when Lynnch arrived with other children on a neighbor’s motorcycle. Upon seeing his parents, he wailed and hugged them.

“I was so scared,” Lynnch said. “I thought I would never see them again.”

Even after the main quake, emotions remained high as the family stayed alert for aftershocks. They took shelter in the church garage, sleeping under tables in the open space. Whenever the ground shook again, they huddled together for safety, and the parents comforted their crying children.

Photo: Jovelyn and her children rest by their sleeping area under the table.

The couple is now unsure what to do next. Their house is devastated, and most of their belongings were damaged. They lost WiFi vending machine and new solar light sets they sold for extra income. Richard said the solar sets were brand new, and he hadn’t yet earned anything from them.

As a pastor, Richard’s worries extend to his church congregation, and the people affected by the quake. He has seen families struggle for food. Some are risking their lives by taking shelter in their damaged homes during the day before sleeping in open spaces at night. The health of the elderly, especially those with chronic conditions, has worsened with exposure to the elements. The entire community is on edge; anytime the ground shakes, they fear for their lives.

Now, Richard is urging for help. He says people need food and basic household items like sleeping materials, as many are unable to recover anything from the rubble of their homes. With families sleeping outside, he says mosquito nets are also necessary. Beyond the physical needs, Richard says mental health support sessions are urgently needed to help his community process the trauma they have endured.

CARE staff of the ACCESS project talks to the family about their experience and their needs.
Women at one of the psychosocial first aid sessions facilitated by volunteers through the ACCESS project.

CARE and its partners in the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) and the ACCESS consortium, are responding to the earthquake by pooling their resources and working with local government units and community members to bring immediate, life-saving support to affected families. This includes food, water kits, tarpaulin sheets for temporary shelter, and psychosocial first aid.

A family’s strength after the storm

For Ruben and Jonnely Benitez, life in their village in Bagamanoc, Catanduanes, is a rhythm dictated by the seasons. The couple worked hard to build a stable life for their five young children.

During the fishing season, from August to October, Ruben, 34, would dive into the clear waters, his livelihood dependent on the quality of his catch. When the harvest arrived, he turned to the land, processing coconuts for and stripping abaca for fiber. He’d pick up his tools and work as a carpenter if times were lean. His steady hands provided for his family and ensured that there was always food on the table and that their children could attend school.

Their life changed when Typhoon Pepito struck. The storm tore the roof from their home and ruined their belongings. The family took shelter in an evacuation center for a few days. The couple worked together to salvage what tin and other materials they could find to piece their roof back together.

The storm had washed away more than just their home. The coconut and abaca crops were damaged, leaving Ruben without his usual work.

“I also couldn’t go dive fishing,” Ruben recalled. “The water was murky after the storm.”

For two months, the family relied on the local government’s assistance, but the goods they received were often not enough for their family of seven.

The immediate assistance from the Gates Foundation was a big help. They received food and other important household items for cooking and sleeping. This was a great relief for Jonnely, who cooks for the family every day.

Photo: A woman carries food items home to share with her family.

“I cooked nutritious food for my family,” she said. “We had mung beans, dried fish, and eggs. We even had chicken.” She added that her children were glad to eat meat again.

The 75 kilos of rice they received lasted for two months. This help allowed Ruben to focus on finding work. He started earning an income again by helping his neighbors fix their own damaged homes.

“I didn’t have to worry about where our next meal would come from,” Ruben explained. “I focused on earning a living to cover our daily expenses and support our children’s schooling.”

Today, the family is still getting back on its feet. Because their work depends on the seasons, they hope another big storm doesn’t come soon. Ruben and Jonnely continue to work hard to rebuild their life, showing the quiet strength of a family facing an uncertain future.

Kalinga’s farming families suffer extreme livelihood, food, health insecurities due to El Niño

Farm fields lay barren due to lack of rainfall and extreme heat on May 4, 2024, in Brgy. Santor, Rizal, Kalinga. (Photo: Josephine C. Kusain/CARE Philippines)

Significant portions of the Philippines are experiencing below-normal rainfall levels and above-average temperatures due to El Niño, impacting 59 out of 82 provinces across the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions. This extensive drought has adversely affected millions, with severe implications for agriculture and fisheries.

In May, CARE Philippines and its local partner, the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services (CorDIS RDS) conducted a Rapid Humanitarian Assessment (RHA) in Kalinga, one of the drought-stricken provinces in the country. Key local government officials and residents of three severely affected communities in Rizal and Balbalan municipalities were interviewed to particularly determine the drought’s impact on women, men, girls, and boys.

The RHA reports that these communities thrive on farming rice, corn, and vegetables are experiencing livelihood loss and hunger as repercussions of the El Nino. The lack of rainfall has made it impossible to maintain the fields and gardens, resulting in severe food shortages.

In Barangay Santor, Rizal, a farming family’s corn fields lay barren, and the garden withered due to the extreme heat. With the soil cracked and lack of rain, Julie Romero, 49, and her family of eight are left with nothing to harvest or sell. Farm work and other daily labor opportunities have also ceased due to the lack of water to irrigate the fields.

Photo: Julie Romero sits by her home’s kitchen during the interview (JR Paclay/CORDISRDS

With no produce to sell, Julie sells snacks like boiled corn and peanuts at the Bulanao, Tabuk public market. Despite her efforts, her daily earnings were barely enough to meet their basic needs. The meager income supplemented by her husband’s occasional work in construction was insufficient to cover their mounting expenses, especially, those incurred for their children’s education.

Julie shared that they worry for their children if the drought persists in the coming months.

“They eat whatever is on the table. They are used to the hardships of our life. But I am unsure about their education,” she added.

One child already stopped schooling because they could not provide for her school needs.

She also fears for their tenure on the land that they till and rent for 10 cavan or 500 kilos of corn per cropping. With the drought, they asked their landlord to waive their obligation until they could recover from their losses. But Julie is uncertain when they can bounce back from their situation when they lack the funds for land preparation in the coming rainy season.

A family garden in Barangay Santor produces stunted vegetables because of the extreme heat. Photo: Josephine C. Kusain/CARE Philippines

Water sources have started to dry up. Farmers have attempted to use water pumps to save their crops, but the rising cost of gasoline and insufficient water supply have hindered these efforts. The once-reliable supply from the mountain springs has lessened, leaving community members without water at certain times of the day. The only hand pump in the community is shared among the residents and is also at risk of drying up.

An open faucet awaits water from a dwindling mountain spring source (left) and a woman pumps water from the only handpump in the community for domestic use (right) in Barangay Santor, Rizal, Kalinga on May 4, 2024. Photos: Josephine C. Kusain/CARE Philippines

The drought also affected social dynamics in the community. Alex Dalayday, a 52-year-old Barangay Councilor shared that their administration works hard in addressing the increasing domestic disputes and illegal activities caused by the financial stress. The lack of local employment opportunities forced families to borrow money, leading to increasing debts. Couples face heightened stress as they struggle to provide for their families, sometimes leading to conflicts and the search for alternative sources of income. Some individuals have also started engaging in illicit activities to make ends meet.

“We have barangay tanods patrol regularly to ensure safety and implement mechanisms to address violence and harassment,” he added.

However, he fears that the situation will worsen without aid. The barangay council already passed resolutions to request assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). These requests included water pumps and other support measures. However, there has been no response to these resolutions as of the conduct of the RGA.

Access to basic services like healthcare has also become more critical. Marivic Wigan, 34, a Barangay Health Worker (BHW) in Anonang Liwan West, Rizal observed an unusual increase in chickenpox cases, affecting not only children but also adults and seniors, due to the stress and weakened immune systems brought on by the extreme heat and conditions.

CARE Philippines, with its extensive experience in emergency response and long-term recovery efforts, advocates for a comprehensive approach to resilience-building. This includes livelihood diversification, skills training, sustainable agriculture practices, improved water infrastructure and sanitation facilities, and strengthened community health services to handle critical health issues.

The harsh realities of El Niño for farmers, vulnerable groups

Land is life. Nobody understands this better than a farmer. And when wells dry up and fields crack under scorching heat, they are also the most directly affected.

Across the country, the drought and dry spells El Nino brought have impacted food security, water supply, health, education, and infrastructure, causing widespread economic and social repercussions, and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.

Affected populations dealing with the effects of the phenomenon and, at the same time, bracing for the impact of La Nina, are also still recovering from recent hazards, including Typhoon Doksuri, which hit northern Philippine provinces in July 2023, and the widespread flooding in Eastern Visayas in November 2023. In Mindanao, communities are reeling from the flooding, landslides, and earthquakes in early 2024 while facing sporadic displacements due to chronic conflict.

The agriculture sector, particularly farmers and fisherfolk of already limited means, has been hit the hardest. 

According to the Department of Agriculture, losses total PHP 9.50 billion (EUR 151 million), affecting 163,694 hectares of farmland across 12 regions, with 47,828 hectares (29.22%) beyond recovery. The ACCESS project estimates that 5.5 million people in drought-affected provinces are engaged in farming and fishing, with 1.6 million living below the poverty line. 

El Nino’s widespread impacts

In areas monitored by the ACCESS consortium and member organizations of the Humanitarian Partnerships Platform (HPP), we are seeing a host of negative impacts:

  • Agriculture

Because of insufficient rainfall and water shortages, there have been extensive crop failures and delays in planting affecting corn, rice, vegetables, and other high-value crops. There are reports of deaths among livestock, and poultry and fishery are also affected. This not only reduces the incomes of households dependent on agriculture for livelihood but may also intensify overall food insecurity.

  • Economic and social impacts 

Drastic income reductions have forced farmers and fisherfolk to go increasingly into debt and borrow money from informal lenders with high interest rates. Some move to more urbanized areas to look for alternative work, and others have resorted to selling their livestock. People are eating less, with upland farmers reducing meals from three to just one daily. 

  • Water, sanitation, and hygiene

There is a severe shortage of water for domestic and agricultural uses. Where it’s still available, the price has been increasing. In some areas, there is intermittent supply; in others, people travel to other towns to fetch water.

  • Health

There are reports of dehydration, diarrhea, skin diseases, respiratory issues, and other heat-related illnesses. 

  • Education 

Schools have had to suspend classes or adjust their schedules to avoid the extreme heat.

Women and girls, persons with disabilities, and older persons face heightened risks

These conditions place certain groups in danger. Women bear a disproportionate burden, managing both care duties and livelihood activities to make up for incomes lost, often sacrificing their own needs. For instance, some eat last to make sure their children and husbands have enough food. 

Increased stress levels, the loss of work, scarce resources, and the disruption of daily life can aggravate existing tensions within households and contribute to often-unreported cases of gender based violence (GBV). Women and children also face higher risks of physical and sexual harm when tasked to secure food and water by traveling farther than usual. 

Persons with disabilities and older persons who have limited mobility now have an even harder time accessing food, water, and basic social services. Women with disabilities, in particular, are doubly affected: decreased household incomes may prevent them from meeting dietary, medical, and rehabilitation needs as their families prioritize food and other essentials. They are also five times more likely to experience sex-based violence, including domestic violence, due to perceptions that they cannot report incidents or will not be believed. Additionally, reporting systems are often inaccessible. 

Building drought resilience, preparing for La Nina

ACCESS and HPP partners have conducted needs assessments, a rapid humanitarian analysis, and initial response activities in drought-affected areas in Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Food is emerging as the most pressing need, and livelihood assistance—seeds, farm inputs, water irrigation facilities, and tools—are essential for recovery.

Even as El Nino’s effects may extend into August in some provinces, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomic Services Administration (PAGASA) expects La Nina to set in between June and August and about 13 to 16 more cyclones to arrive this year. These may compound the negative impacts on vulnerable populations. Humanitarian aid must thus take these forecasts into consideration. 

And while emergency response addresses people’s most urgent needs, to more effectively build resilience to drought, longer-term solutions, including those focusing on ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction, are vital.

—-

ACCESS is a multi-year, multi-sectoral project funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and implemented by consortium members ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, CO Multiversity, Humanity & Inclusion – Philippines, and Save the Children Philippines. 

The Humanitarian Partnership Platform is a network of 13 local organizations plus CARE as convenor, enabling rapid, scalable, and coordinated disaster response, emphasizing flexible funding and gender sensitivity, and leveraging local expertise and resources.

Mainstreaming Peace Education in Caraga

  • CARE Philippines
  • Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release, Uncategorized, Women and Girls

Agusan del Sur and Norte, March 2024 — The BRIDGE Project capped off the month of March—National Women’s Month—with workshops to help educators integrate peace education and peace-promoting values in their learning curriculum, conducted in collaboration with Common Reference Educators Workshop (CREW) and the Department of Education.

Held on March 21, 2024, in Agusan del Sur and on March 22, 2024, in Agusan del Norte, the activities gathered a total of 103 primary and secondary school teachers, teaching personnel, and administrators. 

Not just about conflict

A key takeaway is that peace “is not just talking about conflict or the absence of war,” as one female educator and workshop participant describes it. “It also talks about gender, the environment, health, and values. Peace is about accepting our diversities,” she says.  

Photo: ACCORD

The role of women educators

The BRIDGE Project believes that women educators and women’s civil society organizations (CSOs), along with youth CSOs and national government agencies like the Department of Education, play important roles in peace education and can lead the process of promoting a culture of peace. This entails enabling the meaningful participation of women and girls in peace education activities in school, which must be designed to empower them.

Gender and peace also need to be contextualized in learning tools, especially those highlighting indigenous communities’ peace-promoting practices.

Photo: ACCORD

Advocates of peace

“As duty bearers, we have the responsibility to nurture young people, our students,” says a participant.

Another one echoes this sentiment, saying, “We teachers are advocates of peace. We need to cultivate empathy in our students. [Because] most of the learners are very vulnerable and prone to negative coping mechanisms, we should be there to support [them].”

Addressing educators’ challenges

The workshops were designed to address four specific issues that educators typically face when trying to mainstream peace education:

  1. Messaging: how to discuss the subjects of peace, rights, and citizenship in a comprehensive and comprehensible way
  2. Adaptability: how to introduce these topics into the present curriculum of all levels in a non-ladderized, flexible platform
  3. Acceptability: how to integrate these into a framework or one common reference that various audiences will find helpful and fair
  4. Sustainability: how to sustain peace, rights, and citizenship education

It covered these in three sessions, including one on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and another on peace and diversity.

Photo: ACCORD

A holistic approach to peace education 

Apart from being informative and engaging, participants appreciated the breadth of the workshop topics. Says one participant, “At first, I thought we would be talking about the social injustices. But our discussion went beyond that. [We talked about how] health issues, persons with disabilities, cultural diversities, and environmental concerns are part of peace. Peace Education is a holistic approach. This training [can guide us on] the topics we can use in our lessons.”

Investing in women

In succeeding activities, BRIDGE will further highlight how gender is an important component of peace education, and how empowering women is central to promoting a culture of peace.

As the 2024 International Women’s Day theme reiterates, “If we invest in women, we accelerate progress.”

Photo: ACCORD
Photo: ACCORD
Photo: ACCORD

The “Civil Society, Women and Youth Promoting Culture of Peace in Mindanao” (BRIDGE) Project is funded by the European Commission and implemented by ACCORD Incorporated, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity, and Oxfam Pilipinas.

Disparities in Diabetes: Applying intersectionality to understand diabetes

  • CARE Philippines
  • Blog, Healthy Mothers & Children, Other Topic, Uncategorized, Women and Girls, Women and Girls

Written by: Juin Ancha (CARE Philippines)

November 14 — World Diabetes Day. Various health organizations and groups all over the country urge the Filipino community to take active measures to prevent this life-threatening illness. However, simple lifestyle and dietary changes may not be enough to comprehensively address diabetes, especially within the context of vulnerable populations. Pervasive gender norms and roles are also factors that influence the health and well-being outcomes of Filipino women and men. As we commemorate World Diabetes Day, we encourage the public to use an intersectional lens to understand diabetes.

Diabetes at a glance

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic, and the Philippines is not exempt. According to the International Diabetes Federation, of the 64 million adults in the country, 4 million have diabetes. However, even with these high numbers, there could be more undocumented cases, specifically in low-income, rural, and armed-conflict-affected areas. Lack of health facilities in far-flung communities, lack of access to diabetes information, and lack of access to basic services continue to be major factors that prevent people, including the elderly, children, women, and men, from seeking timely health check-ups and routine monitoring. Socioeconomic constraints do not help either, and only contribute to a general reluctance among poor families to seek medical intervention.

Early detection of diabetes is hard when you are poor and internally displaced. In Lanao del Sur, many people did not know that they were diabetic until they saw CARE Philippines NCD-LOVE. NCD-LOVE was a three-year pilot project designed to introduce innovative approaches to address health issues, specifically non-communicable diseases, diabetes included. From providing technical assistance and capacity buildings to partner government stakeholders, augmenting NCD service delivery in project sites, and ensuring its sustainability through transition plans, the NCD-LOVE indeed provided strong advocacy on health and well-being. In 2023 alone, the project reached 15 municipalities in Lanao del Sur and served 7,031 patients, of which 67% were women.

Using intersectionality as lens to understanding diabetes

Lived experiences of diabetes can be best understood through an intersectional lens that considers the social identities of ordinary Filipinos. Due to deep-seated culture and gender norms, various gender biases have affected not only our behavior towards health but also our understanding of health. According to the World Health Organization, the majority of studies on NCD, diabetes included, have been undertaken on men, and women have been less diagnosed at early stages. As a result, even health interventions have placed women at the periphery of diabetes attention.

“No words could express how CARE helped us and made us happy, especially here in our community,” – shared Alma (not her real name), 58 years old, a woman with diabetes from Boganga Transitory site. That is why the NCD-LOVE project purposefully targeted not only low-income households in conflict-afflicted areas but, more importantly, women.

“We deeply appreciate the invaluable support from CARE and Abbott, which has been instrumental in propelling this NCD-LOVE program forward. Our steadfast commitment to prioritizing health and well-being remains resolute. As we look ahead, our focus remains steadfast on ensuring the sustainability of our NCD-LOVE program, guaranteeing that the progress achieved endures for the long term,” stated IPHO II.

Unlocking one of the key solutions, applying intersectionality in analyzing diabetes, opens discussions beyond the medical model of this life-threatening, non-communicable disease.

The NCD-LOVE project was funded by Abbott and the Abbott Fund.

Ten Years On: Typhoon Haiyan’s Legacy of Resilience and Renewal 

  • CARE Philippines
  • Blog, Disaster Response, Latest News & Stories, Stories of Change, Uncategorized, Women and Girls

Written by: Reiza S. Dejito (CARE Philippines)

Ten years ago, Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Yolanda, roared through the central islands of the archipelago. It was a storm that would go down in history as one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded. Today, we stand a decade removed from the devastation, yet the memories remain, etched into the heart of every survivor and every humanitarian effort that rose from the rubble. Maria Theresa “Tess” Bayombong, a Program Consultant for CARE Philippines, offers a stirring retrospective of the resilience, recovery, and rebirth in the aftermath of the super typhoon. 

Tess’ Recollections: Solidarity Amidst Ruins: “When I first set foot in the typhoon-stricken village of San Miguel, Leyte, the destruction was unimaginable,” Tess begins. “But amidst this landscape of despair, what moved me were not the signs of destruction but the signs of unity and human spirit.” She witnessed a community coming together, embodying the Filipino spirit of “bayanihan”—helping hands and hopeful hearts working in unison to rebuild, even as they carried the weight of their own losses. 

In photo: Ms. Tess Bayombong

“Their gratitude for the simple necessity of roofing materials was a powerful reminder of human resilience,” Tess recalls. “Even when our resources could not reach everyone, the community took it upon themselves to share what little they had, ensuring no one was left unprotected from the elements. This collective sacrifice and kindness were truly inspiring.” 

Impact and Adaptation: The CARE Response: Tess reflects on the long-term impact Haiyan had on the people’s livelihoods, especially in areas like Leyte where coconut farming was not just a job but a way of life passed down through generations. “Seeing the women of these communities, who had lost the very tools of their trade, come together to learn new skills and rebuild their livelihoods was a testament to their indomitable will,” she notes. 

CARE’s adaptive humanitarian response played a pivotal role in this transformation. From immediate life-saving assistance to supporting long-term self-recovery, CARE’s three-phase approach was not only practical but deeply empathetic. Tess speaks proudly of the organization’s efforts in providing technical assistance, training, and financial support that empowered women and rejuvenated local economies.

Lessons Learned: Shaping Future Responses: The greatest lessons come from the hardest experiences. Tess emphasizes that the most crucial takeaway from the Typhoon Haiyan response was the effectiveness of a phased, adaptable approach in emergency response. “It was about listening to the needs of the community and responding in a way that supported not just survival but sustainable growth and self-sufficiency.” 

This experience has indelibly shaped CARE’s approach to disaster preparedness and response. Gender-responsive strategies and financial assistance have helped pave the way for a future where communities are not only ready to face emergencies but are also equipped to thrive afterward.

A Beacon of Hope for Tomorrow: As we commemorate the ten-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, we don’t just look back; we look forward, carrying the lessons and stories of strength with us. Tess’ account is a beacon of hope—an illumination of the path forward marked by solidarity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to empowerment and preparedness. 

“Typhoon Haiyan was a story of loss, but more importantly, it was a story of hope, of communities coming together, of women taking charge of their destinies, and of an organization that stood by them,” Tess concludes. “Today, we remember, we honor, and we continue to build a more resilient future.”

Bangsamoro women and youth: emerging leaders from the ground up

  • CARE Philippines
  • Latest News & Stories, Press Release, Uncategorized, Women and Girls

Photo: A young Bangsamoro woman participates in one of the series of gender-sensitive conflict and resilience analysis and capacity-building sessions among women and youth civil society organisations, gender and peace advocates hailing from Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi (BaSulTa).

Witten by: Juin Ancha and Winonna Fernando (CARE Philippines)

SULU, PHILIPPINES – Since the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019, there has been increased attention to the differentiated impacts of decades-long conflict on Bangsamoro women and girls. However, for most, justice, healing, and reconciliation remain elusive. As we commemorate the 11th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl, women and youth-led CSOs in Sulu are retelling their history to every Moro woman and girl, one story at a time.

“The youth of today are fortunate to not witness the suffering and pain of conflict and war in Sulu following the declaration of Martial Law in the 1970s… But now, I have learned about the impact of historical injustices on communities and how the presence of conflict and war over the past 50 years has contributed to the province’s present condition.” – Woman youth leader whose name was withheld.

Although BARMM has been admired for its efforts for better women’s representation, and has progressed in pushing for laws and initiatives promoting the Bangsamoro’s right to know, right to justice, right to reparation, and the guarantee of non-recurrence through Transitional Justice and Reconciliation, along with other normalization initiatives, the Bangsamoro youth, particularly women and girls, in the isolated segments of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi remain sidelined and without means to access basic services, comprehensive education, and violence prevention programs that can facilitate and sustain their meaningful participation and leadership in formal or informal spaces and letting their voices be heard.

Life amid constant displacements

Sulu is ranked second-third to lowest in the 2019 Provincial Human Development Index by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Decades of evolving conflict have resulted in a vicious cycle of poverty, systemic exclusion, and sociocultural marginalization and discrimination affecting vulnerable populations including youth, women, and children. Surviving in these situations comes in many forms. To some youth it means resorting to other forms of self-preservation such as involvement in crime and illegal activities, violent extremism, and other negative coping mechanisms. But for some women and youth-led CSOs, surviving also means thriving. Despite constant displacements, many women and youth-led CSOs believe that harnessing collective power, claiming space and amplifying influence, and becoming positive agents of change can promote recognition, reconciliation, and healing.

“Justice has not been served to benefit all the abused, displaced and dispossessed. As women youth leaders, we want to be deeply involved in claiming our rights and ensuring that injustices do not happen again.” – Woman youth leader in Sulu whose name was withheld

Engaging young women and girls is key

Apart from conflict, deep-seated cultural norms and beliefs about what women and girls should be and how women and girls should behave have shaped the lives of young Moro people for generations. These norms drive many girls out of school, to forced marriages, and expose them to gender-based violence. However, recent developments have served as proof that reshaping cultural norms and engaging women and girls is key to achieving peace, reconciliation and healing.

CARE Philippines sees gender equality, synergy and complementation in humanitarian-development-peace nexus spaces, as key to ending poverty and social injustices.

In February 2023, CARE Philippines launched the “Civil Society Women and Youth Promoting Culture of Peace in Mindanao” (BRIDGE) Project, funded by the European Commission, aimed at reducing the drivers of conflict through strengthening women and youth CSOs, and working with various peacebuilding actors in Mindanao – complementing its existing humanitarian and disaster preparedness programming in the island.

In partnership with Nisa Ul Haqq fi-Bangsamoro (Nisa) – a women’s rights organization, small-scale women and youth-led CSOs hailing from Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi are capacitated and linked with relevant BARMM ministries and commissions with initiatives on peacebuilding and Transitional Justice and Reconciliation. Women and youth-led CSOs from Sulu are committed to increasing their involvement in community memory projects, narrative documentation activities, and rights awareness and information drives that will facilitate communities’ access to services ultimately aimed at addressing drivers that perpetuate conflict in the communities.

Peacebuilding by women, with women

Anything is possible. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the first woman to sign a major peace agreement in the world and led the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and human rights lawyer Raissa Jajurie, co-founder of Nisa and current minister of the Ministry of Social Services and Development of BARMM became an inspiration to many Bangsamoro youth and girls to pursue peacebuilding initiatives using nonviolent collective power.

For many women and youth-led CSOs, retelling their history would mean constantly defying cultural norms and beliefs that have curtailed women and girls’ rights. Through BRIDGE, they are positive to pursue peacebuilding initiatives involving more women youth and girls in the process. True enough, when youth and girls are recognized as equal citizens towards peacebuilding, meaningful participation arises.

As we observe and celebrate the International Day of the Girl, may we continue to seek and maximize avenues that amplify her-stories that promote genuine representation of youth, young women, and girls and ensure that no one is left behind.

Reviving Typhoon-Damaged Coconut Farms: A Farmer and Public Servant’s Story

“I have replanted all the damaged coconut trees on my farm while I help other farmers recover their livelihood”, shared Juvy Laguansa, 50, a farmer and public servant in Barangay Genemoan, Loon, Bohol.

He has been tilling more than half a hectare of a farm for the past 14 years and has experienced several ups and downs through these years. However, it was typhoon Odette, internationally known as Rai that left him and his family uncertain of how they could bounce back when it ravaged the province on December 16, 2021. Its harsh winds felled several decades-old coconut trees on his farm. The mahogany trees were also severely damaged. He and his family primarily rely on coconut farming and were expecting a huge return when they would eventually harvest the mahogany trees. Hence, it was difficult for them to suffer such a huge loss.

He further shared that even before the typhoon, most of the coconut farmers in the province were already suffering from losses because of the fluctuating price of copra and the exploitation by middlemen who buy their produce at low prices and provide loans for agricultural inputs at excessive interest rates.

“Without inputs, we couldn’t start anew. There was also a lack of seednuts or seedlings because every coconut farmer in Bohol was heavily affected at that time”, he added.

The Philippine Coconut Authority recorded that over 3 million coconut trees were toppled by the typhoon in Bohol. The provincial nurseries were also heavily damaged. With coconuts taking three to five years before bearing fruit, coconut farmers would have to find ways to thrive.

When the RISE Coco project was introduced to their community, Juvy, felt relieved that, finally help was coming for the sixty-four (64) typhoon-affected coconut farmers in Barangay Genemoan, including himself. As a key barangay official, he felt the need for the barangay local government unit (BLGU) to take part in ensuring that the project would achieve its goal of reviving the small-scale coconut farms and recovering affected households’ source of livelihood. The BLGU facilitates the scheduling and organizing of climate change-resilient farming training and provides venues, logistics, and security for project activities.

Photo: Juvy Laguansa talks to PCA National Director Bernie F. Cruz and Cargill Philippines’ Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Development for Philippines and Vietnam, Jennifer Sabianan during their visit to the locally managed nursery.

As a beneficiary, he helps in managing the community-based nursery and ensures that seed nuts and seedlings are taken care of. He also encourages fellow farmers to continue learning and applying good agriculture practices that they learned from the training, not only in propagating coconuts but also in other crops.

“From the training, I noted how important financial literacy is in farming because I can track the costs of inputs, expenses, and income. It also helped me in finding ways that I could manage the household finances”, he said.

The RISE Coco project is implemented by CARE in partnership with the CebuBohol Relief and Rehabilitation Center and supported by Cargill.

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