Build Rescue Boats in Flood Prone Communities

In our last project report we explained how we’re raising funds this Holiday season to help maintain a vital fleet of rescue boats in Banaba, just outside of Manila, after our charity closes. In this report, to illustrate once again just how important these boats are, we wanted to highlight the story of yet another Banaba resident who relies on these boats.

Felisa (pictured) is 72 years old and lives in the South Libis area of Banaba with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. As well as being elderly, Felisa is also asthmatic and all this means she can’t move quickly.

So, Felisa was in real danger when Tropical Storm Karding (known internationally as Yagi) struck in August 2018. Heavy rains caused the Nangka river to overflow and Felisa’s home was overwhelmed by flood waters as a result.

Thankfully, the Grahame Maher rescue boat (also pictured) was nearby, and thanks to the boat and its brave volunteer crew Felisa was safely transported to a nearby evacuation centre.

Felisa had this to say about the help she received:

“God bless IDV and the donors. My needs are taken-cared of with your assistance. Salamat po!”

We echo Felisa’s thanks and hope you’ll consider making a further gift to this project if you can. In doing so, you’ll help ensure that residents like Felisa can benefit from a rescue boat when the next flood inevitably strikes.

You can find out more about our plans to close down IDV on our website, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I’d be delighted to hear from you as always.

Thank you so much for helping to build rescue boats in flood prone communities. Because of your amazing support we’ve been able to provide 12 completely new rescue boats and refurbish another 6 that were originally provided by other donors. Together, this fleet of boats offer vital protection to almost 5,500 families during the Philippines annual typhoon season.

Over the years the importance of these boats has been shown time and time, including in 2020 when typhoon Ulysses struck the community of Banaba. During Ulysses the Grahame Maher boat protected around 800 families, and the Chris Taylor boat helped another 500 families. One of those helped during Ulysses was 73 year old Yolanda who had this to say:

“The IDV-funded boats are a big help to us and to our neighbors. Many of us would have drowned if there were not boats. Thank you to the donors for protecting us”.

As well as helping to rescue the elderly these boats have also helped the very young too. 

For example, in August 2016 monsoon rains brought heavy flooding and the Grahame Maher rescued 180 people, including then eight month old Noelle. Aftwards, Noelle’s mother Maricel had this to say:

“Once inside the rescue boat, we felt that we were all safe. Thank you for your help.”

The practical safety and peace of mind your donations have helped to provide to vulnerable families is beyond question, and we’re now hoping you’ll consider supporting this project one last time.

This is because we’ve recently made the sad but necessary decision to close down our charity, International Disaster Volunteers (IDV) in early 2023. However, the work of our amazing local partner, Buklod Tao, will continue and we’re aiming to raise as much as we can to support their efforts over the Christmas and wider Holiday season.

Rather than try to build further boats, donations received between now and the new year, along with the funding already in hand for this project, will be used to maintain the existing fleet moving forward. It will also help provide further training and equipment for the amazing volunteers who bravely crew these boats.

So, although IDV will no longer be directly involved after the next few months, this is our chance to help create a lasting legacy in Banaba. We know money is tight for everyone right now, but if you can please consider making a gift this #GivingTuesday.

You can find out more about our plans to close down IDV on our website, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I’d be delighted to hear from you as always.