Typhoon Goni (Rolly) and Vamco (Ulysses) November 2020
Tropical cyclone VAMCO formed over the Philippine Sea, and is moving west-northwest towards central Luzon. On 10 November, its centre was approximately 345 km north-east of the eastern coast of Samar Island (central Philippines). (ECHO, 10 Nov 2020)
The Goni-affected provinces have been experiencing heavy rain since 11 November, lot of people are still displaced due to typhoon Goni. Flooding has been reported in Catanduanes, the Goni ground zero. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NRRMC) has issued early warning advisory and has requested evacuation of population in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas. (ECHO, 11 Nov 2020)
Related Emergency - Super Typhoon Goni
On 1 November 2020, Super Typhoon Goni brought torrential rains, violent winds, mudslides and storm surges to the Philippines’ largest island of Luzon.
According to the latest reports from government, some 82,900 people remain displaced in the provinces affected by Typhoon Rolly, of which 38,600 are in 481 evacuation centers while 44,300 are being served outside of formal shelters. At least 25 people have died and more than 390 have been injured while six people remain missing in the aftermath of the typhoon, according to the Government.
- Super Typhoon Goni (Rolly) and Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) - Flash Update No. 4 (OCHA, 12 November 2020)
- Briefing Note on Typhoon Goni (ACAPS, 12 November 2020)
- Super Typhoon Goni (Rolly) Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (Nov 2020 - April 2021) (OCHA, 9 November 2020)
UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Assistance Overview (As of 03 February 2021)
On 1 November 2020, Super Typhoon Goni, (Rolly) brought torrential rains, violent winds, mudslides and storm surges to Luzon that caused extensive destruction and damage affecting more than 3 million people.
The initial Humanitarian Needs and Priorities document was launched to address immediate humanitarian needs of the areas hardest hit by Super Typhoon Goni. Subsequently, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) approved an allocation of $3.1 million (PhP 150 million) for the Philippines to IOM, UNICEF and WFP. Working with local partners, the three agencies were able to provide life-saving assistance and accelerated stabilization of conditions faced by affected population and at-risk communities.
PDRF mobilizes private sector to deliver aid to Ulysses-torn Cagayan
24 NOVEMBER 2020, TUGUEGARAO CITY—The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and its private sector partners delivered food and non-food relief items to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region II as part of its ongoing relief efforts for the affected communities of Typhoon Ulysses (International name: Vamco) in the Cagayan Valley Region. This provision of immediate, life-saving assistance is included in the UN Humanitarian Response Plan.
In a recent turnover ceremony titled “Aksyon Para sa Cagayan,” an estimated two tons of hygiene and dignity kits from PWC Philippines - Isla Lipana & Co and PLDT Vice President & Deputy Head for Public Affairs Carlo Ople and food packs from Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. were turned over to OCD Region II for repacking and distribution to the affected families in the region. AirAsia provided air transport, lodging, and manpower support for the relief items.
Each hygiene kit included bath soap, laundry soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, a pail with a cover, a dipper, shampoo, and surgical masks to ensure compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The food packs included rice, sardines, corned beef, instant noodles, and coffee.
Turnover of hygiene and dignity kits from PWC Philippines - Isla Lipana & Co and PLDT Vice President & Deputy Head for Public Affairs Carlo Ople and food packs from Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. to OCD Region II
PDRF and its private sector network, as well as representatives from the United Nations, Germany, and the Netherlands, travelled to Tuguegarao City to oversee the delivery, packing, and distribution of relief items. They also participated in a fact-finding mission in Tuguegarao City and Municipality of Peñablanca to survey and assess the impact of Typhoon Ulysses.
This mission included the Ambassador of the Netherlands H.E. Saskia de Lang, the Ambassador of Germany H.E. Anker Reiffenstuel, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez, PDRF President Rene Meily, PDRF Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon, AirAsia Chief Finance Officer Ray Berja, Mayor of Tuguegarao City Jefferson Soriano, OCD Region II Director Harold Cabreros, Dr. Teofredo Esguerra of Wilderness Search and Rescue Philippines, Iliac Diaz of Liter of Light, and representatives from Aboitiz Foundation.
As of this writing, another two tons of relief goods from private donors are en route to Tuguegarao City via land transport. These include 1,200 kg of rice, 400 bottles of alcohol, corned beef, instant noodles, sardines, toothpaste, and shampoo.
Last November 9, when Tropical Depression “Ulysses” became a Severe Tropical Storm, PDRF activated its Emergency Operations Center in Clark, Pampanga and began communicating vital information to its private sector network to initiate disaster response.
The typhoon has affected nearly a million families or nearly 4 million individuals in Regions I, II, III, V, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, NCR, and CAR with an estimated PHP 4.2 million damage to agriculture and an estimated PHP 6 million damage to infrastructure.
The private sector response to Cagayan Valley has gone beyond the donation and distribution of relief goods and has also included services like providing trucks and boats and deploying rescue teams to the severely-hit areas. The partnership between the private and public sectors forms a crucial part of the national response plan and it is only through coordinated efforts and a whole-of-society approach that the country will be able to recover from this recent onslaught of natural calamities.
How to Help
Based on initial reports, affected communities lack food, water, and hygiene kits. To help repair their damaged houses, donations for shelter repair kits (CGI sheets, wood, etc.) and tents are badly needed as well.
CBi Member Network - the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) calls for cash and in-kind donations for families affected and displaced by these tropical cyclones.