Group seeks relief assistance for media flood victims
Journalists who have brought to the public reports and images of death and destruction brought by typhoon "Frank" on Panay Island have themselves experienced the horrors of the worst flooding experienced in the Western Visayas.
Edwin Ramos, photographer of the Philippine Information Agency in Aklan and his wife stayed on their rooftop from 4 p.m. on June 21 until 5 a.m. the next day after the water rose up to 10 feet high inside their house in the capital town of Kalibo.
They were able to transfer their children to another house before the waters rose high. But the flood destroyed or damaged most of their belongings including his three cameras.
He saved a new pair of rubber shoes sent by a relative from abroad and planned to sell it to buy bamboo poles to be used in rebuilding their house. But after a few days, he used the shoes trudging the mud-caked streets of Kalibo because most of those he knew were also victims and did not have money to buy the shoes.
The houses of Iloilo broadcasters Febe Morales of dyOK Aksyon Radyo, Bernard Broniola of dyFM Bombo Radyo, Regan Arlos of dyRI RMN 774 and couple Jujet and Eleanor Reyes of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. in Aklan were also damaged or destroyed by floodwaters.
They are among at least 82 media workers on Panay Island whose houses and properties were destroyed or damaged during the typhoon, according to a report of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). These include 39 from Iloilo, 40 from Aklan and three from Capiz.
The NUJP and other media organizations have appealed for help for media workers who were among the typhoon victims.
"Even as they continue to report on the disaster, the journalists are themselves trying to find ways to deal with its impact on their personal lives and their communities. Let us express our solidarity with our colleagues in Iloilo, Aklan and Capiz provinces, huge parts of which are still buried in mud, by giving whatever assistance we can give," said NUJP Secretary General Rowena Paraan in a letter of appeal.
Red Batario, executive director of the Center for Community Journalism Development (CCJD), said they have aired their appeal to other media organizations and have started collecting relief goods and other assistance to the affected journalists.
The media groups said they also called on crises experts to help colleagues deal with the secondary trauma in covering deaths and destruction brought by the typhoon as well as personal losses.
Panay Island especially the provinces of Iloilo and Aklan were the worst hit by the typhoon and experienced unprecedented destruction after heavy rains caused massive flooding in most towns and villages.
The Office of Civil Defense reported that at least 342 persons died during the typhoon in the Western Visayas region alone. Around 290 are still missing and 886 were injured. The flooding affected around 2,545 villages and 417,399 families or 2,094,105 persons. At least 50,571 houses were destroyed and another 101,080 others damaged.
Radio and cable stations in Aklan were knocked off air for weeks after the mudflow destroyed or damaged their stations and equipments. Most of their personnel were also unable to work because of the destruction of their houses. But many journalists continued with their marathon coverages despite their personal losses.
The NUJP said media practitioners in Iloilo have performed "a heroic role" by giving warning and updating the public and up to the time that high waters have claimed many places.
"At the height of the flooding, radio stations had been a valuable lifeline for many listeners because they sent text messages and initiated telephone calls so that volunteers can conduct rescue operation that saved lives," it said in a statement. Msgr. Meliton Oso, executive director of the Jaro Archdiocese Social Action Center, also praised the media for its help in relief efforts which have generated help including from Filipinos abroad through their websites.
"The relief efforts of media practitioners are very laudable, especially broadcast media because they were able to reach more people," Oso said in a text message. Assistance could be channeled to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (105-A Scout Castor Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, Philippines, nujphil@gmail.com,
Tel. +632 411-7768) and the Center for Community Journalism and Development (4th Floor, FSS Building, No. 89 Scout Castor St., Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City Philippines, red.batario@gmail.com, Tel. +632 376-5550).