Emergency Response in Cagayan

The partnership of Global Peace Foundation Philippines and GlobalGiving in collaboration with Local Government of  Sanchez Mira , has been helping the Agta communities in Sanchez Mira. As their living condition was greatly affected by the aftermath typhoon of Ulysses and COVID-19 pandemic, the said partnership emergency response to IP communities  was the provision of solar lamps, water jugs, disaster kits, medicine kits, clothing and rice and canned goods to help meet their basic needs during the pandemic. The relief goods were distributed to 200 recipients last May 2021.

The given relief goods supported the daily lives of the indigenous people greatly.

The following are testimonies from the recipients:

Noon, kami ay kumakapa sa dilim pag kami ay umuuwi sa aming tahanan sa may paanan ng bundok kaya lubos po akong nagpapasalamat sa GLOBAL GIVING at GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION sa pinagkaloob nilang ilaw na may kasamang solar panel na kung saan ito na ang nagsisilbing tour guide sa aming pag uwi araw araw. Hindi man ito gaano kalaki pero ito po ay nakapagbibigay ng liwanag sa aming tahanan. Ang maganda pa rito ay nakakatipid kami dahil hindi na kami araw araw na pumupunta sa bayan  para bumili ng gaas  pang ilaw. Ang aming pamilya ay taos-puso pong nagpapasalamat sa GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION. (Olympio’s family testified, back then, we were groping in the dark when we were going home to our home at the foot of the mountain, so I'm very grateful to the GlobalGiving and to the Global Peace Foundation for the solar  light they provided with a solar panel that served as our light  on our way home everyday. It's not that big, but it gives light to our home. The good thing about this is that we could save money from buying kerosene for lighting. Our family is sincerely grateful to the GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION )

Ang tradisyunal na ilaw, ang LAMPARA ay ang ginagamit namin sa pang araw-araw pag kami ay naghahapunan. Kaya nung nagbigay ang GlobalGiving at Global Peace Foundation ng ilaw at solar panel sa amin ay masaya ng sobra,  dahil kahit papano nagkaroon na kami ng ilaw. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam pag maliwanag ang iyong iniikutan at ito na rin po aming gagamitin na pang ilaw para makahuli ng palaka at isda para sa pang araw-araw naming ulam. GOD bless po at maraming salamat po ng napakarami. (Four generation of Grandma Paulina used the traditional light, LAMPARA is what we use every day when we have dinner. So when the GlobalGiving and Global Peace Foundation gave us light and solar panels, we were  very happy, because finally  we had light. It's a good feeling when your surrounding is bright and we also used  this light to catch frogs and fish for our daily dish. GOD bless and thank you very much.)

Taos – puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa GlobalGiving at Global Peace Foundation sa ibinigay niyo pong ilaw at solar panel na nakakatulong sa akin araw-araw. Malaking tulong na po sa akin dahil sa gabi nagagamit ko rin sa paghuhuli ng isda para may ulam kami. Masaya na ako kasi sobrang liwanag na ng aming tahanan at ako’y nakakapagtrabaho ng maayos. Maraming Salamat po. (Mrs Tiene was sincerely grateful to GlobalGiving and Global Peace Foundation for the light and solar panels you gave me that help me every day. It's a big help to me because at night I can also use it to catch fish so we have a dish. I am happy because our home is very bright and I can work well. Thank you very much.)

Maraming salamat po sa GlobalGiving at Global Peace Foundation dahil sa dami naming mga agta isa po kami sa mga binigyan niyo ng ilaw at solar panel. Ako at ang aking pamilya ay masaya dahil mayroon na po kaming gagamitin na ilaw tuwing gabi.Sana po hindi kayo magsawang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan. Mabuhay po ang GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION. (Nelia was thankful to GlobalGiving and Global Peace Foundation because among the many Agtas, we are one of those who receive solar lights and solar panels. Me and my family are happy because we now have a light to use every night. I hope you don't get tired of helping those in need. Long live GlobalGiving and Global Peace Foundation.)

Bilang isa sa mga agta dito sa Sanchez Mira, gusto ko lang po ipaabot ang aking pasasalamat, unang – una na sa LGU – Sanchez Mira dahil sila ang naging daan para ang GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION  at GlobalGiving ay makarating sa amin upang mabigyan kami ng isang bagay (ilaw at solar panel) na ito ay nakakatulong sa amin tuwing gabi. Sana po di kayo magsawang tumulong sa amin. (Jovie, as one of the Agtas here in Sanchez Mira, I just want to express my gratitude, first - first to the LGU - Sanchez Mira because they were the way for the Global Peace Foundation Philippines  and GlobalGiving to reach us to give us something (light and solar panel) that helps us every night. I hope you don't get tired of helping us.)

The Local Government of Sanchez Mira,  through Public Employment Service Office, visited and monitored the beneficiaries after a year (due to pandemic restrictions) to check the condition of the provided solar lamps, water jugs, disaster preparedness kits. 

Some of the solar lamps are still functional but most were destroyed due to numerous reasons: the lamps won’t charge unless connected to a power source through an outlet, the solar panels are already broken, the wires were destroyed by insects, the lamps are broken. Most of the recipients were able to use them for a year. 

These solar lamps are/were beneficial to the indigenous people especially at night. They were used not only in the houses but also when the IPs travel from work and the way home is already dark since they live in or near mountains. Also, solar lamps are better than candles because they do not have to worry about accidentally getting their house on fire.

Most of the plastic mats provided are still being used especially for the children. These helps them sleep better since some of them are still sleeping on the ground. They can also carry these mats and use them if they need to rest during workdays while in the fields. However, the insulators are already worn out. 

The medicine kits are very useful since the IPs usually get cuts when working. The medicines were already consumed and helped them save not only money but time and effort since they are far from the center of the town where most drugstores are located. They asked assistance from their Barangay Health Workers on how or what medicine to take when needed. 

The water jugs are also advantageous to the Agta communities. They do not have immediate access to potable drinking water so having these jugs to store water is very convenient. Spilling of water is no longer a problem. They don’t have to worry about insects and other dirt contaminating their drinking water. Also, they can bring these water jugs with them when they go to their work. These containers are durable and they are still in use.

 To sum up, the Agta communities are very appreciative of the assistance provided both by the LGU Sanchez Mira and Global Peace Foundation Philippines. They are grateful and are trying to do their best in improving their lives to make sure they are worthy of the support being given to them. The Indigenous People group hopes to receive continuous aid. They wish more blessings to the local government and the foundation so they can continue providing help to the less fortunate.