Decent jobs remain elusive for Yolanda survivors in Manila--Kadamay
One year after the destruction that hit Visayan islands brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Hyan), survivors who now live in Metro Manila and their relatives commemorate the tragedy with a candle lighting protest against what they call as the criminal neglect of the Aquino administration, and its fatally lousy disaster preparation.
Lelia Elaria, who experienced the wrath of storm surge that struck Tacloban City in November 8, 2013, joined the candle lighting in urban poor community of Waray folks in Camarin, Caloocan City last November 6 for the thousands of lives that were lost in the tragedy.
Elaria were among the more than 20,000 survivors who were flown to Manila aboard C130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force a week after the tragedy. Some of her relatives have already returned to Tacloban City, while she stayed in Manila to seek for a job with the hope to aid the fast recovery of her family whose home and livelihood were destroyed by the storm surge. But a year after the tragedy, decent job remains elusive for Elaria in Manila.
"As it is hard to find for jobs in Leyte because of the destruction, the situation is no different here in Manila. What you earn only suffice to buy food for your daily need. I haven't saved enough to send to my family in the province," said Elaria who live in a small house with the family of his aunt in Sitio 4, Purok 7, Camarin Caloocan City.
As of December 2, 2013, a total of 4,655 families or 19,533 individuals have arrived in Metro Manila since November 16, 2013 via the Philippine Air Force C-130 and other means of transportation, according the National Capital Region office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) has criticized the Aquino government for its defective recovery and rehabilitation program for the survivors both in the Visayas and here in Metro Manila.
“Despite the billions of foreign aids for the recovery of Yolanda survivors and pressure from the international community, the government has still failed to give full assistance to the survivors including those who remain in Metro Manila,” Kadamay said.
Of the recorded 19,533 survivors who were flown to Metro Manila, 3,328 families and 3,583 individuals were sent home to their relatives through the ‘Oplan Hatid’ initiative of volunteers; 3,658 individuals were fetched by their relatives; 11 families and 36 individuals were referred to LGUs; 1,314 individuals went to their relatives on their own; and 139 individuals were brought to the hospital for immediate medical attention.
Families who do not have relatives in Metro Manila were sent to DSWD’s Jose Fabella Center, Nayon ng Kabataan and Reception and Study Center for Children, faith-based and Non-Government Organizations, and at the Tent City in Pasay City for temporary shelter.
Kadamay said the fate of Elaria and thousands of other Yolanda survivors in Metro Manila is no different from those of the flock of Filipinos from the countryside who choose to migrate to urban centers in search for greener pastures, and fail to find decent jobs.
“In the past years, disasters, both natural and man-made such as the Zamboanga seige, have increased the incidence of urban migration from rural areas contributing to the ever-growing member of urban poor in the country which is at around 32 million Filipinos. Meanwhile, the perennial problem of landlessness and lack of livelihood opportunities in the countryside have consistently fueled urban migration in the country,” Kadamay national chair Gloria Arellano said.
“While the Aquino government fails to implement a genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization program, which will create livelihood and employment opportunities and strategically ends both rural and urban poverty in the country, there is no hope of a better days ahead of Elaria and her relatives and other victims of disasters,” added Arellano.
As thousands of its members have taken the streets of Tacloban City in Leyte, and other cities in the Visayas including Kalibo, Roxas City and Ilo-ilo City, in the commemoration of the first year of the Yolanda Tragedy and to call for the ouster of President Aquino, their relatives and members of Kadamay in Metro Manila will light candles at 6pm today to protest the bleak future ahead of the Filipino urban poor under his administration.
“Today, we fall for justice for the victims of the criminal neglect of the Aquino administration to the victims of Yolanda and other disasters, and for his immediate ouster for failing to address the chronic unemployment and poverty in the country,” said Arellano. ###
One year after the destruction that hit Visayan islands brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Hyan), survivors who now live in Metro Manila and their relatives commemorate the tragedy with a candle lighting protest against what they call as the criminal neglect of the Aquino administration, and its fatally lousy disaster preparation.
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| A candle lighting protest in Camarin, Caloocan City last November 6, 2014 |
Lelia Elaria, who experienced the wrath of storm surge that struck Tacloban City in November 8, 2013, joined the candle lighting in urban poor community of Waray folks in Camarin, Caloocan City last November 6 for the thousands of lives that were lost in the tragedy.
Elaria were among the more than 20,000 survivors who were flown to Manila aboard C130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force a week after the tragedy. Some of her relatives have already returned to Tacloban City, while she stayed in Manila to seek for a job with the hope to aid the fast recovery of her family whose home and livelihood were destroyed by the storm surge. But a year after the tragedy, decent job remains elusive for Elaria in Manila.
"As it is hard to find for jobs in Leyte because of the destruction, the situation is no different here in Manila. What you earn only suffice to buy food for your daily need. I haven't saved enough to send to my family in the province," said Elaria who live in a small house with the family of his aunt in Sitio 4, Purok 7, Camarin Caloocan City.
As of December 2, 2013, a total of 4,655 families or 19,533 individuals have arrived in Metro Manila since November 16, 2013 via the Philippine Air Force C-130 and other means of transportation, according the National Capital Region office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) has criticized the Aquino government for its defective recovery and rehabilitation program for the survivors both in the Visayas and here in Metro Manila.
“Despite the billions of foreign aids for the recovery of Yolanda survivors and pressure from the international community, the government has still failed to give full assistance to the survivors including those who remain in Metro Manila,” Kadamay said.
Of the recorded 19,533 survivors who were flown to Metro Manila, 3,328 families and 3,583 individuals were sent home to their relatives through the ‘Oplan Hatid’ initiative of volunteers; 3,658 individuals were fetched by their relatives; 11 families and 36 individuals were referred to LGUs; 1,314 individuals went to their relatives on their own; and 139 individuals were brought to the hospital for immediate medical attention.
Families who do not have relatives in Metro Manila were sent to DSWD’s Jose Fabella Center, Nayon ng Kabataan and Reception and Study Center for Children, faith-based and Non-Government Organizations, and at the Tent City in Pasay City for temporary shelter.
Kadamay said the fate of Elaria and thousands of other Yolanda survivors in Metro Manila is no different from those of the flock of Filipinos from the countryside who choose to migrate to urban centers in search for greener pastures, and fail to find decent jobs.
“In the past years, disasters, both natural and man-made such as the Zamboanga seige, have increased the incidence of urban migration from rural areas contributing to the ever-growing member of urban poor in the country which is at around 32 million Filipinos. Meanwhile, the perennial problem of landlessness and lack of livelihood opportunities in the countryside have consistently fueled urban migration in the country,” Kadamay national chair Gloria Arellano said.
“While the Aquino government fails to implement a genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization program, which will create livelihood and employment opportunities and strategically ends both rural and urban poverty in the country, there is no hope of a better days ahead of Elaria and her relatives and other victims of disasters,” added Arellano.
As thousands of its members have taken the streets of Tacloban City in Leyte, and other cities in the Visayas including Kalibo, Roxas City and Ilo-ilo City, in the commemoration of the first year of the Yolanda Tragedy and to call for the ouster of President Aquino, their relatives and members of Kadamay in Metro Manila will light candles at 6pm today to protest the bleak future ahead of the Filipino urban poor under his administration.
“Today, we fall for justice for the victims of the criminal neglect of the Aquino administration to the victims of Yolanda and other disasters, and for his immediate ouster for failing to address the chronic unemployment and poverty in the country,” said Arellano. ###
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