Galleries

Bibiana Andres, president of the Fagayugoy de Melitedted Libun deb Kuya (Famelik) and Abie Ayao, Emergency Response Officer of Oxfam Philippines, exchange views at an evacuation center in South Upi, Maguindanao. The sanitation facility behind them is part of the REACH Project. (Photo: Bong S. Sarmiento/Oxfam)

Women tribal leaders take charge of solar light, facilities in Maguindanao evacuation camp

For over two years now, an evacuation center just a few meters from the national highway in South Upi, Maguindanao has become a regular refuge for indigenous peoples from the Teduray tribe. In July 2019, the more than 500 families from the tribe were uprooted from their farms in the mountainous...

Solar-powered loudspeaker keeps faith of Maguindanao ‘bakwits’ alive

For two straight years now, more than 500 Moro families from a village in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao have been spending Ramadan away from their homes. During prayer times at the mosque, the Imam or religious leader could barely be heard by those at the back due to the lack of a public address...

Lilia Godoy waters the seedlings in the hydroponics nursery set up by the Quigona Hydroponically-Grown Seedlings organization in Magarao, Camarines Sur. The vegetable nursery is part of Oxfam and Rice Watch Action Network’s assistance for their Typhoon Rolly (Goni) Recovery Program. (Photo: Juanito Bantong/Oxfam)

Sustainable farmer-to-farmer response gives hope to farmers in Camarines Sur town

For Lilia Godoy, 63, Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) is not something she can easily forget. Her village of Carangcang was devastated by the typhoon although it did not experience flooding like most of their neighboring villages in Magarao.

Ruhaida Mantawil, a community organizer for Community Organizers Multiversity, poses with the solar panels that power its portable generator set. The generator, which was funded by the REACH Project, is being used for data gathering and humanitarian field work in Mindanao. (Photo: Bong S. Sarmiento/ Oxfam)

Community leaders use solar power to help deliver needs of displaced residents in Maguindanao

In one town in Maguindanao, an indigenous tribe had to seek refuge in a makeshift evacuation camp due to land disputes. Like a number of evacuation sites in the province, the camp is unconnected to the power grid. The lack of electricity not only made it hard for the displaced residents to go about...

No longer in the dark: Solar lamps help women in Maguindanao evacuation camps earn a living

For the last 4 months, Uri Bandao has remained productive despite the difficult situation her family and at least 160 others have endured at an evacuation camp in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao province.