The second team that was sent to Leyte and Ormoc City on January 27, 2014 returned to Mindanao on February 5, 2014. They went back to re-establish contact with LGUs and other agencies, reconnect with the people that were served during the emergency response and to conduct basic area profiling to gather data that will be used as basis for the initial activities that will be conducted at the start of the early recovery and rehabilitation phase. Several meetings were conducted to consolidate the gathered data and to scout for possible staff.
On February 16, 2014, MiHANDs convened the final preparation meeting to decide on the initial personnel and volunteers who will operate the office in Ormoc City, decide on the immediate activities that will be conducted while validating the data gathered, office setup (equipment, supplies and logistics) and of course the budget needed for operations. Mr. Arlieto Berlan, the executive director of RDRRAC, agreed to head the Ormoc City staff and act as MiHANDs Coordinator. Also named was Mr. John Montilla, a Sendong survivor, as Psychosocial Services Program Coordinator and will act as finance officer while Mrs. Manuela Laranjo was named Health Program Coordinator and will act as Administrative Officer.
The third team travelled to Ormoc City on February 20, 2014 and arrived in the City at around 10:00 AM of February 21, 2014. This marks the beginning of the Early Recovery and Rehabilitation stage and the second phase of the intervention. Aside from the three personnel chosen, an additional four personnel from the different institution supporting MiHANDs also travelled to Ormoc City. One of the four additional personnel travelled with the three staff via Surigao City and the other three via Cebu City on the 21st of February 2014 for the purchase of Desktop and Laptop computers and other electronic equipment and will help in the setting up of the office. The group that travelled via Cebu City arrived in Ormoc City on February 22, 2014.
As mentioned in Update No. 12, a contract for the rental of an office space was made before the second team came back to Mindanao in February 2014. They made sure that the next team that will come to Ormoc City would not be burdened anymore in finding an office space.

After clean up, purchasing and setting up the office equipment, installation and setup of internet connection, the team visited the target barangays on February 24, 2014. The team conducted its first staff meeting on February 25, 2014 to discuss on the possible activities to be conducted in each barangay visited while the other four personnel who helped in the setting up of the office headed for Mindanao early in the morning of the same day via Surigao City.
The team conducted Disaster Risk Reduction- Climate Change Adaptation trainings in Barangay Lat-osan, Palompon, Barangay Bangkal, Villaba and DPL, Ormoc City in the early part of March 2014. Training in Tambulilid, Ormoc City was postponed due to unavailability of reliable data. The rest of the time in March 2014 was used for the validation of data that was gathered by the second team.
MiHANDs has already assessed the previous intervention – Emergency Response and Relief Distribution. The total number of families served was 1168 or 4672 individuals at an average household size of four. The table that follows summarizes the funds generated, its sources, and the expenses by funder.
To see the financial table, open the pdf document below.
To send donations to support Mi-HANDs action
The international funding campaign continues. Donations can be sent through ESSF.
Cheques
cheques to ESSF in euros only, payable in France, to be sent to:
ESSF
2, rue Richard-Lenoir
93100 Montreuil
France
Bank Account:
Crédit lyonnais
Agence de la Croix-de-Chavaux (00525)
10 boulevard Chanzy
93100 Montreuil
France
ESSF, account number 445757C
International bank account details :
IBAN : FR85 3000 2005 2500 0044 5757 C12
BIC / SWIFT : CRLYFRPP
Account holder : ESSF
Through PayPal
You can send money through Paypal: see the PayPal button on the upper left side of ESSF home page [English version of Paypal form is on the English Home page].
We will keep you informed through our website of the state of the permanent solidarity fund and how it is utilized.