ILO and DOLE Joint Rapid Livelihood Impact Assessment After Typhoon Melor (Nona)

Typhoon Melor first made landfall on 14 December 2015 in the Philippines, bringing intense rains and damaging winds to central and northern parts of the country. The typhoon left 42 dead, displaced more than 280,000 people and severely impacted infrastructure and livelihoods of those along the typhoon path. On 18 December, the Philippine Government declared a State of National Calamity to hasten recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including international humanitarian assistance.


The typhoon was initially projected to have minimal impact. However, the assessment showed that the impact was magnified due to vulnerability of the population along the typhoon path, including high poverty incidence rate and poor adaptive capacities, combined with the deviation from forecast of the course and timing of the typhoon.

The joint assessment mission of DOLE-ILO

Immediately after the typhoon hit the country, DOLE and ILO conducted a joint rapid livelihood impact assessment in some of the affected areas in Region IV-B, particularly municipalities in Oriental Mindoro and Romblon. The mission was led by Undersecretary Nicon Fameronag, joined by the ILO’s Specialist on Enterprise Development and a Senior Programme Assistant, and supported by the DOLE Region IV-B office based in Oriental Mindoro.

The assessment mission was informed by the local authorities that one week after the typhoon, many communities remained inaccessible due to road blockages and had not received any kind of assistance. The transport of food and other emergency items was even more difficult at the northern islands of Romblon, where the main means of access and communication with Oriental Mindoro was via a regular boat that departs once a day.

Significant number of houses as well as small enterprises were damaged, including those completely shuttered, particularly the houses of the poor. Since the designated evacuation centers, such as schools, were also destroyed, residents were seen dwelling in improvised shelters, exposing them to further risks. Along with the accommodation of the evacuated population, the local authorities were concerned of the disruption of the lifelines such as the fallen electricity posts and the cessation of water services especially in the uplands, which rely on electricity for pumping up.

Loss of livelihood and the challenges ahead

Significant economic loss is also expected as a huge percentage of coconut, banana and other high value crops have been lost or damaged, which are the prime source of income for most of the municipalities. Additionally, damage in fisheries and livestock was also substantial. The extensive damage to livelihoods, especially in the agriculture and service industries, left numerous workers in the region jobless or suspended from work.

The local population was concerned of how to sustain their livelihood for the next 5-6 years until the new perennial crops can be harvested. It is expected that the total potential loss of income due to the damage on the coconut trees could amount to USD 1.22 million annually in the municipalities of Concepcion, Corcuera and Banton, the three northern islands in the Province of Romblon most seriously affected by Typhoon Melor.

The mission recognized the complexity of rebuilding the lost assets, while strengthening the vulnerable communities’ resilience to future crisis. For the perennial crops, climate-resistance must be taken into account. Due to the wide-spread indebtedness, there is a risk of selling assets for repayment even if there could be external assistance to re-establish the lost assets. The local households must find sources of income for 5-6 years, while taking care of the cultivated land until the crops could be harvested again and establishing more sustainable livelihoods.

For further information please contact:

Mr Hideki Kagohashi
Enterprise Development Specialist
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
Tel. No.:+63 2 580 9900
Email

Ms Gwyneth Anne Palmos
Senior Programme Assistant
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
Tel. No.:+63 2 580 9900
Email