The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) implemented
22 projects with funding from 14 donors to support more than 230 405 farming and
fishing families and more than 800 community-based organizations in regions IV-B,
VI, VII and VIII in restoring their livelihoods and building resilience to future
disasters. Typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) swept through the Central Philippines on
8 November 2013. The storm affected 14.1 million people, devastated
600 000 hectares of farmland and caused over USD 700 million in damage to the
agriculture sector.
FAO Philippines appealed for USD 38 million within the Typhoon Haiyan Strategic
Response Plan to address the emergency and early recovery needs of affected
farming families. In response, donors provided over USD 39.7 million in funding for
interventions in the following areas:
rice and corn farming;
coconut-based farming systems;
fisheries and coastal communities; and
coastal/mangrove forest rehabilitation.
Building more resilient livelihoods was a key focus of FAO’s programme. In the
immediate aftermath of Haiyan, FAO complemented Government efforts to restore
the livelihoods of farmers in time for the imminent planting season, while enhancing
local and national capacity to avoid or limit the adverse effects of future hazards.
FAO’s Typhoon Haiyan programme was implemented from November 2013 to
December 2015.
TYPHOON HAIYAN EMERGENCY, RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
Completion Summary
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RICE AND CORN FARMING
RICE AND CORN FARMING: ENSURING STAPLE FOOD HARVESTS
The typhoon struck between two planting seasons – destroying ready-to-harvest, harvested and newly
planted rice. Without timely support, rice farmers would have been unable to plant and would have
continued to depend on external food aid for one full cropping cycle.
Since December 2013, FAO has helped more than 177 000 rice and corn farming households to restore their
livelihoods by providing quality agricultural inputs. The assistance enabled families to reap a good harvest
and rapidly restore household food security and income generation.
*Computed based on the national average annual rice consumption of 114kg per capita, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, 2012
Emergency phase
Distributed certified rice seeds and fertilizer to more than
44 500 farming households;
Distributed certified corn seeds and fertilizer to more
than 8 600 farming households;
Provided fertilizer to more than 36 255 households,
complementing input support from the Government;
Distributed 13 794 sets of hand tools, including shovels,
machetes and hoes, benefitting more than 68 970
farming households; and
Distributed 1 218 sets of irrigation pumps to
803 community-based organizations (CBO), LGUs and
government research centres.
Recovery and rehabilitation phase
Working in close collaboration with the Government, FAO
supported small-scale rice and corn farming communities to
strengthen their agricultural production and income generation.
Distributed rice and corn seeds, fertilizer, vegetable
seeds and post-harvest equipment (such as grain storage
and drying nets) to 18 617 households;
Cleared 2 500 hectares for planting rice and corn and
identified and established 32 hectares of Sloping
Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) sites;
Distributed seedlings and root crop planting materials to
21 CBOs for the development of SALT sites;
Trained 609 farmers on the development and
maintenance of SALT sites;
Distributed hand tools to 6 800 households;
Distributed livestock (such as carabao, cattle and goats),
farm equipment (such as hand tractor, shredder, rice
thresher, corn sheller, rice reaper and water pump), small
farm reservoirs, nursery protective structures and farm
implements (such as plow and harrow) to 111 CBOs;
Trained 230 farmers on organic compost production with
the use of shredder-chippers; and
Trained 3 645 farmers, through season-long Farmer Field
Schools (FFS), on improved and alternative agriculture
practices on crop diversification/farming systems, post-
harvest management, food processing, and improved
livestock production, including 38 local government units
technicians on climate-smart FFS.
Results:
Facilitated the production of over 87 291 metric
tonnes of milled rice – enough to feed more than
765 719 people for one year
Every farmer supported with seeds for one hectare
was able to produce two tonnes of rice, enough to
feed a family of five for a year, generate vital income
and save seed for future planting
Enabled each household to obtain an average yield
of 1 336 kg of rice per 0.84 hectare of land cultivated
with the distributed seeds and fertilizer, generating
an average income of USD 345 per household
Many of the beneficiary farmers were able to
produce much higher yields than pre-typhoon
estimates
Improved the resilience of farmers through
practical seed storage methods and climate-
adaptive farming technologies, and helped reduce
post-harvest losses through the provision of post-
harvest equipment and training
Facilitated the production of over 9 244 metric
tonnes of corn grits.
Gelma Mesias is a rice farmer from Barangay Pangpang
Sur, Mambusao, Capiz. The typhoon wiped out the
ready-to-harvest produce of their 1 hectare farm and
destroyed all houses in their community. She received
emergency support from FAO, including certified rice
seeds, fertilizer and hand tools.
“The seeds enabled us to plant for the harvest season
after Yolanda. Because of that, we’ve managed to make
the repairs on our home, pay for our children’s tuition
fees and not rely on relief goods anymore.”
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RICE AND CORN FARMING
*A limited number of households received more than one type of assistance as deemed necessary during the consultation and evaluation process
FISHERIES AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES
FISHERIES: BUILDING BACK BETTER
Nearly two-thirds of fishing families in affected coastal areas lost their productive assets to Typhoon Haiyan, with
an estimated 30 000 small-scale fishing boats lost, damaged or destroyed.
FAO’s recovery programme supported more than 17 800 fishing households. The interventions helped coastal
communities restore fishing capacity (without exceeding pre-typhoon levels) and rehabilitate productive assets
and small-scale infrastructure, while promoting boat safety and quality. FAO also provided technical guidance and
training on aquaculture production, post-harvest and value-adding economic activities and marine-protected areas
management.
FAO helped facilitate immediate livelihood
restoration of fishing communities through the
following activities:
Designed a new environmentally sustainable hybrid
fibreglass and wooden boat and trained 900 boat builders
and Government personnel on its construction, repair and
maintenance;
Designed and distributed 1 700 copies of hybrid boat
manuals and distributed boat engines and accessories to
1 700 beneficiaries, including 22 community-based
organizations (CBOs), fisheries colleges and local
government units involved in marine protection and
technology training;
Trained 11 963 fishers on improved methodologies,
including:
Safety and survival at sea protocols
Improved fish post-harvest handling and storage
Seaweed farming, milkfish culture, mudcrab and
bivalves production
Food safety, good manufacturing practices and
sanitation standard operating procedures, value adding
and improved post-harvest processing
Fish habitat assessment, Marine Protected Area
management, community-based and ecosystems
approach to fisheries management and fisheries law
enforcement
Distributed fishing gear kits to more than 3 328
households;
Distributed inputs for post-harvest, processing, vending or
value-adding activities to more than 7 200 beneficiaries;
Strengthened 20 women’s organizations through post-
harvest training and elaboration of post-harvest plans;
Provided seaweed input packages and aquaculture
productivity assets for mudcrab, milkfish and bivalves
production to 5 900 households; and
Established three seaweed nurseries.
Domingo Olediana from Culion Island is one of over
900 carpenters trained by FAO on the construction,
repair and maintenance of hybrid boats.
“I attended the training so I could help my barangay to
build boats without the need to cut down old trees to
make the keel, which destroys the environment. This
hybrid boat will last many more years than our
traditional wooden ones because it has a very strong
fibreglass kasco (keel) that will not rot or be eaten by
tamasok. From the training I received, I can now make
very good boats for our fishers.”
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FISHERIES AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES
Results:
Contributed to the sustainable development of
fisheries, aquaculture and mariculture activities in
the targeted areas.
Restored and enhanced the production capacity of
beneficiary fish farmers as well as seaweed and mud
crab growers through the distribution of inputs.
Contributed to increasing household income by
promoting improved post-harvest and processing
techniques, which helped reduce fish waste and
added value to beneficiaries’ products.
Facilitated the adoption of more environmentally
sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices.
Strengthened local government and community
capacity in the management of marine protected
areas, leading to increased production of fish and
other marine resources.
*A limited number of households received more than one type of assistance as deemed necessary during the consultation and evaluation process
COCONUT-BASED FARMING
SYSTEMS
COCONUT-BASED FARMING SYSTEMS:
SECURING ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS
An estimated 44 million trees were damaged or destroyed by the typhoon, affecting around 1 million
coconut farmers. The impact on livelihoods was devastating as coconut seedlings take an average of six to
eight years to become productive again.
FAO assisted around 35 500 small-scale coconut farmers to develop more resilient, diversified livelihoods as
part of its support to the Government in the rehabilitation of the coconut sector. This resulted in improved
food security and nutrition and helped develop longer-term economic stability in highly vulnerable
communities.
Lalane Perucho of Balete, Aklan Province, participated in FAO’s
training on Sloping Agricultural Land Technology and
subsequently received start-up farm inputs to apply what she
learned.
“Now we have the means. We will be able to innovate, plant
new crops and try new things like growing pineapple,
eggplant and ginger. More than a year ago, this seemed
impossible.”
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COCONUT-BASED FARMING
SYSTEMS
FAO helped coconut-based farming
communities recover through the
following activities:
Distributed 462 tonnes of rice and corn seeds,
466 800 units of fruit planting materials and
vegetable seed packs, 3 398 tonnes of fertilizer,
35 500 household farming kits, 36 934 grain
storage containers, 4 650 sets of hand tools and
262 farm machinery sets, 7 800 heads of livestock
and poultry, and 43 735 mangrove propagules
and various other planting materials, reaching at
least 35 500 coconut-farming households and
447 community-based organizations;
Conducted training activities that improved the
resilience and equipped more than
34 818 farmers with skills and knowledge on
climate-resilient coconut-based farming
systems
climate-smart farming technologies through
farmer field schools
livestock production and management
nursery operations and management
seed production and management
Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT)
mangrove rehabilitation and management
integrated pest management
community-based disaster risk reduction and
management, and agricultural vulnerability
and hazard mapping
entrepreneurship and asset building through
savings, basic leadership, business planning,
bookkeeping
community-based processing and value-
adding enterprises
Established nearly 100 SALT sites and 45 nursery
structures.
Results:
Enabled beneficiaries to restore their farm assets and
livelihoods and increase their household income
through the production of high-value crops and
compost;
Improved beneficiaries’ knowledge of innovative
farming practices and technologies, helping them
diversify their livelihood, improve farm productivity,
attain seed security and reduce risks from pests and
future natural disasters;
Contributed to the expansion of SALT sites and
provided opportunities to replicate climate-smart
farming technologies and contour farming in
smallholder lands;
Linked CBOs to Government services and programmes,
and provided common service facilities to CBOs;
Reduced production and post-harvest expenses for
farmers;
Ensured the availability of quality breeds of animals in
regions with severely depleted animal stocks.
*Some households received more than one type of assistance as deemed necessary during the consultation and evaluation process
Typhoon Haiyan damaged approximately
18 000 hectares of mangrove forest. Around
12 000 hectares of the damage occurred in Region
VIII, particularly in the provinces of Eastern Samar,
Western Samar and Leyte.
FAO worked closely with communities and local
organizations to rehabilitate coastal ecosystems and
livelihoods as a cross-cutting component of its
fisheries and coconut-based farming systems
interventions. Appropriate propagules, seeds,
seedlings and planting materials were distributed
and approaches for the successful recovery,
protection and natural regeneration of
coastal/mangrove forests were promoted.
FAO helped communities rehabilitate
coastal ecosystems through the following
activities:
Supported 36 marine protected areas by
providing logistical inputs and training more
than 1 900 participants from community-
based organizations and local government
units on the assessment and monitoring of
fish habitats and fishery law enforcement;
Planted 51 700 mangrove propagules and
wildlings in a total of 25 hectares of heavily
damaged mangrove forests and in four
mangrove nurseries established by
beneficiary CBOs;
Trained 290 beneficiaries, including CBO
members, on mangrove ecosystems and
management; and
Conducted participatory risk assessments and
mapping of 93 coconut farming and
mangrove communities.
A member of Barangay Agustin Navarra Environment Conservation
Association (BANECA) helps replenish sediments that will aid in the
regeneration of saplings spared by storm surges. Healthy growth of
mangrove stands requires a clean environment with unobstructed
flow of tidal inundation.
BEING ACCOUNTABLE IS A PRIORITY
Throughout the implementation of the Typhoon Haiyan Emergency,
Recovery and Rehabilitation Programme, FAO integrated
Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) principles into its
policies, programmes and partnerships. The five AAP commitments
address: leadership/governance; transparency and communication;
feedback and complaints; participation and representation; design,
monitoring and evaluation.
In consultation with affected populations, FAO tailored its activities to
the needs of communities, ensuring that support met actual
requirements. FAO‘s Frontline SMS also served as a two-way
communication channel and facilitated effective communication with
beneficiaries.
COASTAL/MANGROVE FOREST
REHABILITATION: RESTORING
A NATURAL BARRIER AGAINST
FUTURE STORMS
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COASTAL AND MANGROVE
REHABILITATION
COMMUNITIES
Recognizing that men and women experience and respond to crises differently, and assessing how gender impacts on people’s capacity for recovery
were inherently linked to FAO’s Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) approach and integral to the success of the Typhoon Haiyan Emergency,
Recovery and Rehabilitation Programme.
After the typhoon, women who were engaged in vending, post-harvest processing and trading of agricultural and fisheries products had become
particularly vulnerable due to the meagre supply of fresh produce, and extensive damage to post-harvest and market facilities. By providing them with
farm inputs, access to skills training and start-up materials for sustainable post-harvest and value-adding activities, FAO empowered them to resume and
improve their livelihoods and, in the process, become agents of recovery and resilience in their communities.
Throughout the programme, FAO supported 23 126 women, including at least 10 110 women in the coconut sector, 7 329 in the rice and corn sectors
and more than 5 687 in fisheries.
Women in the coconut sector
Livelihood diversification was vital to meeting immediate food and income needs in coconut-farming communities. FAO undertook the integration of
short- and medium-term crops and livestock and also tapped the potential of women to contribute to hastening the recovery of their families and
communities by introducing them to alternative agriculture-based livelihood options and value-adding technologies that can help them command better
prices for their products.
Marife Jalbay of Salcedo, Eastern Samar recalls how their group, the Majority Women Farmers Association, was selected to undertake value-addition
training through an assessment conducted by FAO. This encouraged them to expand their farm business by producing cassava chips. They are now
earning higher returns compared to when they were supplying their raw cassava to nearby markets, which sold for an average of USD 2.50 per barrel. For
that equivalent weight of cassava turned into chips, they can make about USD 69.60.
“Right now, we are the only ones making cassava chips here in Salcedo. We hope we can further improve the packaging and quality, and one day sell our
products in other barangays and even in supermarkets,” she said.
Women in fisheries
It was equally challenging for women in the fisheries sector to get back on track after Typhoon Haiyan. Prior to the disaster, many of them bartered their
dried fish products for rice during harvest season. This practice was common in areas where farm to market roads were inadequate. FAO provided them
with post-harvest kits and related training to enable them to consolidate production at household level and also engage with larger markets. The
programme also encouraged women organizations to explore other value-adding practices using more efficient drying technologies, reducing fish
wastage and thereby improving the income of their families.
“We learned how to dry fish and squid more efficiently by minimizing spoilage and proper cleaning. We also learned how much salt was necessary to
avoid spoilage and how to make new products like fish tocino (cured fish),” narrated Loida Lagan of Baronganan, Palawan. “Right now, we’re optimistic
that we can have better incomes. We’ve learned not to be too dependent on our spouses, that women can help, and we’ve become more confident in
doing that.”
Women gain access to markets
As a result of post-harvest and value-adding production training combined with workshops on entrepreneurship and business planning, community
based organizations assisted by FAO, including women’s groups, were able to successfully produce new or higher value products. They were also able to
gain a better understanding of potential markets through technical assistance on market testing in the barangay, municipal, provincial and regional
levels, and through their participation in various trade fairs.
Throughout the implementation of FAO’s Haiyan response, women served as partners in resilience-building as they played a significant role in the value
chain. This, in turn, is helping them improve the incomes of their families and ensure that they are better equipped to withstand economic shocks that may be caused by future natural disasters.
RESILIENT WOMEN
RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
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Government Partners Throughout the implementation of its Typhoon Haiyan Emergency,
Recovery and Rehabilitation Programme, FAO worked in close
collaboration with the departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform,
Environment and Natural Resources and affiliated agencies namely:
Philippine Coconut Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources, Bureau of Animal Industry, Forest Management Bureau. FAO
also worked with local government units, the National Economic and
Development Authority and the National Commission on Indigenous
Peoples. Further to supporting food security and agriculture sector
responses, FAO also actively participated in the Office of the Presidential
Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery cluster on livelihoods led by
the Department of Trade and Industry, and also engaged in the social
services cluster led by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development.
WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT
AND RESOURCE PARTNERS
Donors FAO mobilized more than 100 percent of the funds appealed for under the
Typhoon Haiyan Strategic Response Plan through the support of 14 donor
agencies in addition to FAO internal funds.
FAO Representation in the Philippines
29th floor, Yuchengco Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila
Tel. +63 02 901 0363 | [email protected]
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