Filipino Communities Resilient to Complex Hazards

On November 16, 2024, Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) swept through Aurora province, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. Among the hardest hit was the Sitio Dumaguipo community in Barangay Cozo, Casiguran, where the humble Foodbank of the Samahan ng Katutubong Agta na Ikhan, Lhaman at Phisad-Phisad (SAKAILAP) was nearly wiped out.

For the members of SAKAILAP, the foodbank was more than a facility—it was a symbol of collective care and mutual support – a familiar concept passed on through generations of the indigenous community. The community had built it as an alternative evacuation space, especially for vulnerable members who couldn't make the 10-minute drive to the official barangay evacuation center during emergencies. With the compounding impacts of the typhoons starting from Typhoon Gaemi, and when Pepito finally destroyed the foodbank, the community lost their source of emergency food support and a safe space, and a vital link in their self-sustaining food system.

In the aftermath, Lonalyn Prado, President of SAKAILAP, turned to the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for assistance. However, the local office declined support, overwhelmed and under pressure, citing a priority focus on household rehabilitation efforts.

But the spirit of bayanihan—a core value of SAKAILAP—would not be defeated. With hope, the group reached out to its broader network of partners and friends. SAKAILAP expressed its deepest gratitude to GlobalGiving and the Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation (CDP), under the Anticipatory Humanitarian Action initiative. Through this support, the organization began to rebuild not just the foodbank, but a community of care.

SAKAILAP’s journey in food banking has always been rooted in empowerment. Long before Pepito, the group worked to establish community-based food banks that addressed hunger not just during disasters, but year-round. Their approach combined traditional values with innovative practices: storing local harvests, sharing surplus food, and organizing community meals. The food bank wasn’t just about storing food—it was about storing dignity, solidarity, and the power of self-help. It’s a way for the community to take care of each other—sharing what they have, cooking meals together, and making sure no one goes hungry, especially during hard times.

Even after the storms, the spirit of bayanihan stayed strong. With new support, SAKAILAP is rebuilding—not just walls and roofs, but a space where people feel safe and cared for.

Today, the members of SAKAILAP continue to look forward, grounded in gratitude but driven by a fierce commitment to resilience. They are rebuilding with stronger materials, renewed purpose, and a deeper sense of trust in the power of partnership.

As the climate crisis grows more unpredictable, communities like Sitio Dumaguipo remind us that disaster response must include community-led solutions. Food banks, especially those built and managed by grassroots groups like SAKAILAP, offer more than food—they offer hope.

And for that, they ask not just for aid, but for continued solidarity.

Links:

• Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation