On September 2018, Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut), the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2018, affected close to 146,000 families in Central Luzon alone. A total of 2,300 houses were reported partially and totally damaged in the whole region. According to the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), nine of the province’s 13 towns were the most affected, especially the northernmost town of Sta. Cruz

Lolita Mon, a 44-year old widow of two years, belong to these statistics. She lives in Brgy. Guisguis in Sta. Cruz, Zambales with her four children, three of whom are students. Another child works in Olongapo City. She works as a stay-out maid or housekeeper. To augment her meagre salary, she cultivates her mother’s land.
Typhoon Ompong’s rains brought heavy rains causing floodings in low-lying communities. Flood waters reached upper leg-high forcing Lolita and her family to evacuate and seek shelter in her cousin’s house. The roofs of their house were blown away by the strong winds. All their documents were soaked.
Lolita’s family received a food pack from Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) and cash assistance of PhP9,600 from GFFO during the emergency phase. She used the money to buy food and groceries. Lolita shared that if the assistance from DKH and GFFO thru Alay Bayan-Luson, Inc. (ABI) and CDRC did not come, she would have incurred more debts and/or left her children to look for work outside their community.

In an early recovery project which aims to restore the livelihood of most affected communities in North and Central Luzon, Lolita’s family received agricultural and livelihood support from DKH. With the rice, corn and vegetable seeds and fertilizer they received, Lolita and her kids will be able to plant on the small land that her mother owns. She hopes to be able to pay off some of her debts after harvest.
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