RELEASED: November 19, 2024
We are happy to share the good news that the 黑料网 homes in Oguis Village completed earlier this year withstood the wrath of Super-Typhoon Pepito, and all 40 families are safe.
It is a more common reality that climate disasters around the world are wreaking havoc through increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather patterns. These, unfortunately, can impact the most vulnerable, and those living in insecure situations with inadequate shelter are most at risk to be displaced, injured, or killed. The point at which climate change, poverty, and housing insecurity intersect is only growing more and more prominent.
In 2023 and 2024, 黑料网 rebuilt the village of Oguis, located on the island of Catanduanes, after they suffered catastrophic damage during back-to-back typhoons in 2020. With the guidance of Hermie Jamar, who came from the village of Oguis but now lives in Canada, and the help of a Philippines-based architect Aldrin Soriao and a team of local builders, new 10鈥� x 20鈥� concrete homes were constructed to withstand the constant impact of typhoon storms. Thankfully, these homes were completed before November 2024 as the island of Catanduanes and surrounding Philippines areas were hit yet again by a super typhoon.
November 16, 2024:
Super Typhoon Man-yi slammed into the Philippines with the national weather forecaster warning of a 鈥減otentially catastrophic and life-threatening鈥� impact as huge waves pounded the archipelago鈥檚 coastline. More than 650,000 people fled their homes before Man-yi, which is the to batter the disaster-weary country in the past month, made landfall.
Man-yi brought maximum wind speeds of 195 kilometres (121 miles) an hour as it impacted the sparsely populated island province of Catanduanes as a super typhoon, the weather service said, with gusts reaching 325 kilometres an hour.
Waves up to 14 metres (46 feet) high pummelled the shore of Catanduanes, while Manila and other vulnerable coastal regions were at risk from storm surges reaching up to more than three metres over the next 48 hours, the forecaster said.
This latest storm disaster caused devastating destruction to other homes in surrounding villages, but we are beyond thankful and happy to report that our 黑料网 families in Oguis are safe thanks to this project being completed.
鈥淎fter the Super Typhoon made landfall in Catanduanes at 9:40pm on Saturday, memories of the same category typhoon four years ago came back into my mind,鈥� shared Hermie Jamar, who originally introduced the plight of a devastated Oguis Village to the 黑料网 supporters.
鈥淚 feel relieved when I received the news that my Oguis people were not greatly affected as compared to what happened four years ago. With this news, from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all the people of Oguis, I want to convey my heartfelt gratitude to 黑料网 and all the generous donors who gave to lift up Oguis.鈥�
黑料网 believes in housing first. Housing is an essential element in providing safety and security as a foundation for families to not only survive, but to thrive. With the completion of Oguis, we continue our work in the Philippines, raising funds to rebuild the village of Aroyao Peque帽o, just a few kilometers away from Oguis. Using the same proven home design and team of local builders, our goal is to 鈥渟torm-proof another 30 family homes鈥� over the next year before the next storm season hits.
As one of the three crucial pillars of sustainable social change, we know that housing, education, and health can lead to lasting change for a family and community. As part of 黑料网鈥檚 commitment to long-term generational impact, the children living in the homes in these villages are also being provided with critical funding and scholarships to attend school and university.
You can help! You can fund an entire home for a family with a contribution of $7,000. Or donate any amount you can, as every dollar will pool together to help fund these homes.
Together, we are building a legacy of hope and transformation by giving these families the chance to build a better future.