“Siyak laeng ditoy balayko idi Bagyong Egay. Pirmi ti buteng ko ta naikkat dadduma parte ti bubong ken na-uklap tay side ti balayko (I was alone inside my house when Typhoon Egay hit. I was very scared because part of the roof was blown off and the side of my house was damaged),” recalled Leonarda “Andang” G. Menor from Barangay Daquiaog, Marcos, Ilocos Norte. “Kararag ti nangted kanyak iti pammati ken pammigsaan iti dayta a tiempo (Prayers gave me strength and peace of mind to endure that moment),” she added.
After the onslaught of Super Typhoon (STY) Egay in 2023, thousands of families were left with homes either partially or totally damaged. Lola Andang’s story is just one of many that highlight the vulnerability of communities during those times.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the Vice-Chair for Response and Early Recovery, played a crucial role in addressing their basic needs for many disaster-affected families. Through the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT), which offers financial assistance to those with damaged houses, it became more than just a financial aid. ECT became a vital source of hope. Lola Andang was one of those who received ECT after her house was partially damaged during STY Egay.
“Nakaawatak ti PhP9,000.00 nga tulong manipud ti DSWD babaen ti ECT. Agyamanak unay ta adda pay sabali nga tulong a naggapu kadagiti dadduma a sangapulo wenno ahensya ti gobyerno. Dakkel ti pagyamanak ken ti munisipyo a nangted iti kasapulan a materyales para iti panag-ayos ti balayko. Agyamanak met kadagiti kakailian iti barangay a nagtitinulong iti panangraman ken panangpapatibker manen ti balayko (I received PhP9,000.00 assistance from the DSWD through the ECT program. I’m truly grateful because I also received additional help from different government offices. My sincere gratitude to our municipal government for providing the materials needed to repair my house. I also appreciate the people in our barangay who helped with the labor to fix and strengthen my house),” shared Lola Andang with a voice full of gratitude.
Furthermore, the DSWD Field Office (FO) 1 – Ilocos Region continues to monitor and evaluate the impact of its recovery programs, revisiting the lives of those who faced loss and despair. Among the 16,518 declared as damaged houses in Ilocos Norte due to STY Egay, Wilson S. Erce from Barangay Fortuna, Marcos, Ilocos Norte, also shares a story of transformation.
“Idi, daytoy balaymi ket naipatakder laeng iti light materials, ngem ita, addaen iti naurnos a pundasion nga semento, gapu iti naited a tulong manipud ti DSWD, DHSUD, LGU, ken ti barangaymi. Mas kampanteakon ita ta natibtibkeren daytoy balaymi, ket nababaen met ti panagdanagmi no adda man umay a bagyo, kas kadayta a Bagyong Egay idi (Before, our house was built only with light materials, but now it has a proper concrete foundation, thanks to the assistance provided by the DSWD, DHSUD, the LGU, and our barangay. I now feel relieved and more confident that our house is sturdier to go through another typhoon like Typhoon Egay),” shared Kuya Wilson during the visit.
In addition to the ECT, the DSWD FO 1 extended support through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), providing both Lola Andang and Kuya Wilson with additional PhP5,000.00 each in financial assistance. Their homes were also improved—not only through the efforts of DSWD but with the collaborative support of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), which led the housing initiatives, along with the active participation of the Local Government Units and Barangay Officials.
These stories of Lola Andang and Kuya Wilson echo a greater truth—recovery is possible when the community and the government come together. It proves that uplifting the lives of those in vulnerable sectors is not just possible—it is powerful, especially when fueled by the spirit of bayanihan. (by: Nicole Kasandra A. Lipawen, Information Officer II)