Culion IPs yet to receive aid six years after Yolanda hit

The devastation of Tacloban City easily comes to mind of many when super typhoon Yolanda is mentioned but indigenous peoples from Culion in Palawan have their own stories about the strongest cyclone to hit the Philippines.

Larry Sinamai, the leader of the Tagbanua tribe residing in Sitio Marabal, Barangay Luac was among the 100 Yolanda survivors who staged a protest on the "anomalous" rehabilitation projects of the government as they commemorated the typhoon's sixth anniversary.

Around 58 Tagbanua families in their sitio faced Yolanda in pitch black darkness.

"Alas-otso ng gabi dumating at humagupit po si Yolanda eh. Gabi po 'yun. Ang dilim-dilim po noon. Wala po kaming mga ilaw, wala po kaming mga solar," Larry said.

All their houses were washed out by strong winds and heavy rain brought about by the super typhoon, he added.

On November 8, 2013, Yolanda made landfall six times in various parts of the Philippines—Dulag-Tolosa area in Leyte; Guiuan Eastern Samar; Daanbantayan and Bantayan Island in Cebu; Concepcion, Iloilo; and Busuanga, Palawan.

In the dark, the indigenous people helped each other build a temporary refuge.

"Humanap po kami ng kubling lugar. Gumawa po kami ng maliit na bahay, sa magdamag 'yun po ang nakublihan po namin," Larry said.

They also lost the fishing boats and nets that they use for their livelihood.

Larry decided to join the protest action because, according to him, his people had yet to receive any housing and livelihood assistance from the government six years after Yolanda lashed their ancestral domain.

"Hanggang sa ngayon po ay naghihintay po kami," he said.

According to the Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP), a coalition of various organizations advocating for social justice for victims of the typhoon, indigenous peoples are "invisible" or commonly overlooked during disasters.

"'Yun ang isang problema actually doon sa Yolanda dahil ang mga katutubo nasa mga isolated na lugar, hard to reach na mga communities, halos hindi nakita," CYSP Advocacy and Policy head Danny Carranza said.

"Ang nasentrohan ng atensyon ay 'yung kung ano ang madalas na naaabot ng media," he added.

Meanwhile, coping with natural disasters is not the only concern of the Tagbanua people in Culion.

Larry said he hoped that the government would do something about the land-grabbing issue in their town and protect the indigenous people's rights as many investors are enticed to benefit from the growing tourism industry in Palawan.

"Gusto ko po matigil na ang bentahan ng lupa at isla doon sa Culion kasi iba-ibang tao ang pumapasok doon, kung saan-saan nanggagaling. 'Yung mayayaman, nagbibili po ng isla doon sa amin," Larry said.

"Kapag mangyari 'yun, mauubusan at mawawalan na po kami ng lupa," he added. —NB, GMA News