Haiyan Relief - Radio and SMS Information Services

Since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November 2013, Internews has been working to get humanitarian information to the victims via radio broadcasts. We thank you for your support – because of you, Radio Bakdaw in Guiuan is able to focus on useful, actionable “News-You-Can-Use” including information messages on water sanitation and hygiene and which shops are open, as well as announcing work opportunities from humanitarian agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and ACTED.

Internews also works with local journalists in the Philippines, who are posting news and information on environmental issues and communicating with disaster-affected communities using an innovative new SMS-based reporting platform called EnviroNews. The platform was launched by the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN).

Here’s an update from the field on how your dollars are being put to work:

Fishermen Guillermo and Sosimo are live on Radyo Bakdaw’s Livelihoods program reporting to Cristina, their financial advisor, that they have beaten the savings target she set for them last week. Cristina is taking them through a process of learning how to budget, save and make investment decisions as part of an effort to help residents of Guiuan in the Philippines get back on their feet.

 The hope is that Guillermo and Sosimo will serve as role models for listeners.

 Radyo Bakdaw was established by Internews in the Guiuan municipality in the Philippines to broadcast humanitarian information after Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) devastated the area.

 “This programming is shaped – very much – by the current needs of the community,” says John Tuckey, Internews Humanitarian Journalism Trainer. “With Yolanda three months ago, and with basic services – though not electricity – back in place, the market in Guiuan stocked and functioning again, shops reopening every day, the focus is on rebuilding.”

 Livelihoods is broadcast for two hours every weekday, part of the 17 hours of specialist humanitarian programming per week. Many people in Guiuan rely on two principle areas of livelihood – fishing and coconut farming, both of which were devastated by the typhoon. The program offers information and advice on rebuilding past livelihoods and on starting new livelihoods.

 Other Radyo Bakdaw programming includes maintaining health and psycho-social support, but its main focus in on rebuilding. A program called Home focuses on shelter – it includes a weekly step-by-step guide for householders, so that they can Build Back Better, that is, make their homes much more resistant to typhoons. Roger, a householder who is rebuilding his badly-damaged house, and Nilo, an International Organization for Migration engineer, discuss on air what Roger has done, and what his next step needs to be. 

 The Radyo Bakdaw team, which previously did not have experience with this type of programming, was able to get the programs on the air after only two weeks training and two weeks of on-air support from Tuckey.

 “I have worked in humanitarian broadcasting since the Kosovo crisis in 1999, and I have never been involved with such a hard-working team,” says Tuckey.  “The producers – who, before January, didn't know what the term meant – have taken to the job with energy and enthusiasm.”

 Thank you once again for your support!

Links:

• Radyo Bakdaw Helps Journalists Emotionally and Professionally

This story comes to Internews via Carl, a college journalism student in Tacloban, the Philippines, where Internews has launched Radio Bakdaw in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.

Hearing stories like this one…when news and information has the power to connect people and communities and solve problems--both big and small, is so powerful. I can’t express enough how grateful we are to donors like you who understand the important role information plays, particularly to those who are facing hardship in the aftermath of a disaster.

Published January 15, 2013

Moving around had become quite a challenge for Loring since the typhoon had wrecked her wheelchair. Before, she was working as a mobile phone reloader, but the loss of her wheelchair had kept her bedridden.

When she heard about the free services offered by Radyo Bakdaw (“Rise”) through her neighbor’s radio, Loring sent a text message to the station.

After the radio station aired her story, a kind-hearted listener named Sonny decided to contact the radio station.

“I heard someone was in need of a wheelchair and so I remembered my mother who passed away months ago. I stored the wheelchair at the back of our house and just kept it there. It was really in good condition but damaged a little bit because of Yolanda (Haiyan). I heard it on the radio and you know, I really wanted to help,” said Sonny.

On December 19, 2013 the wheelchair was handed over to Loring.

“It was clear she was very happy because she could go back to work and her nanny will be freed from carrying her around the house,” said Rica, who delivered the wheelchair.

Having heard of Loring's story, four more people sent their requests to Radyo Bakdaw also pleading for new wheelchairs. The contact details were forwarded by the radio staff to Handicap International, an NGO based in Tacloban, who promised to follow up on it. 

This moving story is just one illustration of the power radio has had since Typhoon Haiyan touched down last November.

As you may well know, many towns and cities in Eastern Samar experienced a complete information black out, without functioning phone lines, TV, newspapers or radio. Currently Radyo Bakdaw is the only radio station on the FM-band and the only media-house permanently based in the region.   Today, Radyo Bakdaw receives around 300-500 text messages a day (with peaks of over 1200 texts). Some texts are practical questions about ongoing relief operations in the region, some ventilate frustration and others again show appreciation or a request to play a favorite song.  

Based on these questions from listeners, Radyo Bakdaw looks for much needed answers and useful information among the international agencies and local government, collected and presented by local presenters who, with support from Internews, have transformed themselves into “humanitarian reporters”(UNOCHA)