News Release

LDS Charities, CRS Build 1450 Shelters in Davao Oriental

Marlyn was in Davao City, busily processing her application for a job abroad, when Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) ravaged many towns in Davao Oriental on December 3, 2012. Although she knew the typhoon was coming, she did not believe it could devastate her town since typhoons were unheard of in this part of the Philippines for the last 30 years.

She was caught flat-footed when Pablo unleashed its fury leaving her worrying and wondering if her husband and two children, aged two and four, were still alive.  Phone networks were down for the next three days as she searched for news back home.  Abandoning all thoughts of getting a job abroad, she hurried home and found her family alive and intact.

Typhoon Pablo extinguished many lives and left survivors homeless.  Many banana, coconut and palm oil plantations were damaged which is a main source of revenue.  Livelihood in the next 5 years is unsure.

To help towns recover, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through LDS Charities (LDSC) provided funding to help build homes for survivors.  In partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), both organizations embarked on a project called the Shelter Resiliency and Recovery Program.  CRS took care of the construction process.

A total of 1,450 transitional shelters were built which benefitted more than 7,000 families.  The project covered 14 out of 18 barangays (towns).  A typical basic shelter has foundations, columns, beams and roofs.  It would allow families to add and expand as needed.

During the turnover ceremony on September 12, Julius Oliveros, CRS Head of Davao Oriental, highlighted the impact of the shelters and the hope it gave to people. With regards to working with LDS Charities he said, “LDSC is excellent and very prompt and that is what we want.”

Municipal Mayor Arturo Monday said, “I am humbly accepting your genuine support.  Typhoon Pablo was our wake-up call and we have been awakened.  We appreciate your generosity.”

Jairus Perez of LDS Charities said, “This is a day of celebration, a day of hope!  We have done this project because we want to follow the teaching and example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to help those in need without regard to race, religion or political affiliation.”

Marlyn Balani, a shelter beneficiary from Barangay Kinablangan who gave the keynote speech expressed her thanks, “We lost almost everything with the devastation.  We thank you for your kind hearts. “

Marlyn fears the thought of another impending typhoon come December.  Her family would be more ready though.   She has lost all thoughts of pushing through with her application abroad.  She feels the need to be with her family and in helping her town face the challenge of rebuilding their communities.  She is currently enrolled in college and is taking up Education.

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