CFCA news

Tropical storm Nock-Ten batters Philippines

Updated: July 28, 2011

ANTIPOLO, Philippines — CFCA sponsored friends are recovering after Tropical Storm Nock-Ten, locally named Juaning, hit the Philippines. No deaths were reported in the CFCA community.

The Xinhua News Agency reported that landslides, drownings, fallen trees and downed power lines have resulted from the storm.

The nation's Bicol region experienced severe flooding. The Bicol region is on the eastern side of the Philippines, between the island of Luzon and the Visayan islands.

CFCA's Legazpi project, which serves more than 8,000 sponsored children and elderly, is in the Bicol region. Gari Olavario, Legazpi project coordinator, said none of the sponsored members died from the storm, but several houses were destroyed.

"We're very thankful that most of our sponsored friends and their families are so resilient, and we've provided training on disaster risk reduction and management," Olavario said. "This also helped them."

The project is providing food assistance to sponsored friends who have been affected. CFCA staff members will also help with the rebuilding of damaged homes.

Klaire Perez, assistant project coordinator in Legazpi, said many areas in the province were still cut off from the power and water supply after the flooding.

"The two-day nonstop rain was said to be equivalent to a month's rainfall in our province," she said.

The CFCA project in Antipolo also suffered damage from the storm.

Malou Navio, CFCA project coordinator in Antipolo, said fathers of CFCA sponsored children are assisting with the Filipino government's efforts to clean up and help families rebuild.

These fathers have formed groups known as ERPATs ("Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities") and help train their communities on disaster preparedness.

CFCA serves more than 43,000 sponsored children, youths and elderly in the Philippines.