Disaster Relief & Development

Providing Relief Teams and Development for Victims of Disasters

Jeff Anderson, Ministry Coordinator

Staff: Luv Zacal, Social Worker

ACTION Philippines is thankful that the majority of calamities that strike the Philippines hit outside of the cities’ where ACTION targets the work. This is not to say that the focal cities of ACTION are spared from calamity as calamity does strike. Now as ACTION strives to relieve the burden of poverty in the cities we recognize that one factor lending to the problem is a lack of sustainability for those residing outside of the cities and this is in part brought on by disaster. Take for example the Bicol region of the Philippines.

In 2006 Super Typhoon Durian veered away from Manila but it directly hit and caused much death and damage in Bicol, Albay, Mindoro, and Marinduque provinces. Villages near the 8,000 foot Mt. Mayon, 220 miles southeast of Manila, were buried by mudslides and car-sized red-hot boulders loosened from the volcano. Mt. Mayon is the Philippine's most active volcano. It has been rumbling for months and began emitting lava in mid-July 2006.

ACTION has a very active network of 8 churches in Bicol and another in Marinduque of 6 churches with whom we do ministry to street children and children at risk. In previous years ACTION has done much relief work for evacuees around the volcano and in September 2006 we started a supplemental feeding program for malnourished children evacuated from the perimeter of the volcano. In August 2006 ACTION sponsored and led a consultation meeting for several of our networks around the country so we will be better prepared and can respond quicker in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. (We do all of our relief and development work in the name of Christ and spread the Gospel as we are able.) Also, in October 2006 we just had a camp for street children in Bicol. When Super Typhoon Durian struck ACTION was ready.

Luke 6:31 "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you."

Adapted From a Prayer Letter Dated December 2, 2006 Sent By:
Jeff Anderson
ACTION Philippine Field Director

OTHER PROJECTS

In the summer of 1990, the northern part of the Philippines experienced a severe earthquake. At that time, ACTION Philippines was not prepared to respond. However, the overwhelming response of the missionaries was that we need to be prepared next time. It was only one year later when that opportunity presented itself with the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. This was the worse volcanic eruption of the century. Even though we did not feel prepared, we knew we needed to take action. This was the beginning of our Disaster Relief and Development ministry. The purpose of this ministry is to provide immediate resources of money or in-kind relief to first to believers in Christ suffering due to man-made or natural disasters. And then to enable churches in the area of the disaster to minister to their neighbors. The ministry was designed to first focus priority on the most needy (widows, orphans and the extreme poor) and then others in the "household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). Then in turn, these brethren can be an extension of blessing to all the people who are in need due to calamities (i.e., coup attempts, serious accidents, fire, flood, typhoons, earthquakes, volcanos, mudslides, etc.) As much as possible, ACTION works with local Christian leaders from the disaster area and with other Christian agencies providing assistance in the area. The objective is to advance the Kingdom of God while bringing relief to human suffering. It is hard to predict when calamities may strike and of what sort or extent. So ACTION strives to have funds available at all times in order to respond promptly when called upon.

Latest Report on the Leyte Mudslide - July 2006