Marikina City residents shelter in public schools

When the floodwaters brought by Typhoon Ketsana rose rapidly on Saturday, September 26, Marvin Mendez, 22 climbed to the rooftop of the residence he shares with his friends. From there, he and his companions were forced to endure the rain, cold and hunger up until Sunday, when the waters began to subside.

“I first checked on my parents. Their home, like others, went under but thankfully they were able to room-in with relatives elsewhere,” Marvin shares in Filipino. Taking what belongings he could carry, Marvin found his way to H. Bautista Elementary School, where many other affected residents of Marikina City had sought refuge. By Sunday evening, a little more than 400 families had taken shelter at the school, with 26 to 40 families holing up in each of the school’s classrooms and even the corridors.

According to Marvin, earlier relief aid distribution was difficult because of the sheer density of Marikina residents sheltered at the school, best efforts of school administrators and local government officials notwithstanding. Together they developed a simple leadership structure to better facilitate organized distribution. Each classroom would have an assigned “Room Leader”.

The room leader would be responsible for queuing up for each round of relief distribution, keeping with them an accurate list of the families housed in their respective classrooms. Marvin himself assumed the role of Room Leader, and could be seen contributing to discipline and order not just among families awaiting aid, but among different concerned parties dropping off relief goods.

The Room Leader system was helpful when World Vision staff returned to the school Monday as part of the relief effort. Room Leaders like Marvin helped World Vision’s response team catalogue an accurate list of affected families, and the number of children belonging to these families.

Each family would receive a World Vision relief pack, consisting of supplies and consumables that are expected to tide them over for a few days. The longevity of each relief pack is designed so families can put effort and attention into other matters, including day trips to their homes in order to begin cleaning and reconstruction.

Cleaning out their homes will be difficult, however, as the water supply throughout Marikina city has not yet been restored. Marvin himself has been able to visit his home, now caked in thick mud. Like other residents, he still cannot begin to clean out the mud because of the lack of water, so he remains at the school where there’s at least some water for basic necessities. “Malilinis rin yun,” “We’ll (eventually) clean out (our homes),” Marvin says. Describing how families are eager to help themselves return to their homes. “We’ll be able to do so sooner if we had water (utilities) restored,” he said. 

Homepage image credit: Reuters