Kathleen Lei Limayo

 

On July 23-24, Super Typhoon Carina, internationally known as Gaemi, ravaged Central Luzon in the Philippines. The southwest monsoon the country is experiencing intensified the impact of the tropical cyclone. It brought heavy rainfall that caused extreme flooding in several provinces. Among the most affected residents are from Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City. The barangay serves as a catch-basin for floods from more elevated Metro Manila areas and nearby provinces.

As the flood level rose, the government electric company cut off powers in heavily submerged areas. Several communities in Barangay Tatalon are lying beside a creek causing further inundation. Several days after Typhoon Gaemi left, some areas in Barangay Tatalon remained without electricity. 

As a response 350 Pilipinas partnered with Nanay Power (Mother Power) to electrify the community by providing a solar charging station. Nanay Power is a local organization in Barangay Tatalon composed of mothers from the communities in the barangay.

Renewable energy is important for response, especially for disaster-prone areas like Barangay Tatalon. According to Fread De Mesa, 350 Pilipinas’ national coordinator, charging stations help power devices that aid during disasters: “Ang naging tulong ng solar charging station sa ganitong mga contexto or responses ay malaki dahil kapag nakapag karga sila ng mga devices nila, nakakapag coordinate sila ng maayos sa kinauukulan at nakakahingi ng tamang suporta. ” (The solar charging station immensely help in responses like this. Because when the residents are able to charge their devices, they are able to properly coordinate and ask for the support they need.)” 

The residents could charge their mobile phones so that they could communicate with their relatives and government agencies where they could seek help. Seeking support is important for urban poor communities like areas in Barangay Tatalon whose houses are perpetually flooded by heavy rains.

“Tuwing may malakas na ulan, lagi nilang agam-agam yun, saan mapupunta yung mga napundar nila. Hindi nga sila makaahon. Ang mahirap lalong naghihirap at pinapalala yung kahirapan dahil sa palakas na palakas at unpredictable na weather patterns and events bunsod ng lumalang krisis sa klima. (Every time there are heavy rains, the residents worry about where their belongings would end up. They cannot get up. The poor experience more difficulty and are pushed to more poverty because of the increasing, worsening, and unpredictable weather patterns and events due to the climate crisis.)”, added by Fread. 

This is the reality for urban poor communities in disaster-prone areas: solidarity will keep them alive. With the leadership of Nanay Power, the communities in Barangay Tatalon can access electricity in times of disaster. Local communities need to have access to renewable energy during disaster response. Truly, renewable energy serves as a lifeline for communities affected by extreme weather events like Barangay Tatalon.

Energy plays an important role in humanitarian response. In disaster-hit areas, energy becomes a rare commodity, along with water, food and shelter. The unavailability of this service hinders the development and resilience building efforts of entire communities in post-disaster situations. However, the value of energy is often overlooked in the humanitarian response system. It is important that local communities have access and ownership to clean energy, as it can provide energy needs and serve as a lifeline for communities.