MANMADE TRAGEDY HAUNTS RESETTLEMENT PROJECT FOR ‘YOLANDA’ SURVIVORS

Published

3 days ago

May 25, 2026

Partially occupied housing units eaten by soil and plants at Tingib Homes in Pandan, Antique. —PHOTOS BY NICOLE FAITH MONTIEL

PANDAN, Antique — On rainy nights, some families living in a government resettlement site for typhoon survivors in this coastal town mechanically move their belongings away from leaks in the ceiling and arrange pails to catch the drips. They have learned to live with bad weather even if their nervous laughter barely muffles the wind rattling the walls.

Quick repairs with cardboard, tarpaulin, and wood scraps are on the task bar, along with security. Yet only a few kilometers away, rows of housing units sit coated in dust and unanswered questions.

More than a decade after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (internationally known as Haiyan) wreaked havoc in the Visayas, the promise of “building back better” in Pandan is caught in cracked walls and overgrowth. What began as a ₱26.7-billion commitment to recovery from calamity has, in many places, developed into a landscape of quiet decay.

The Tingib Homes project is a stark monument to stalled transition. There are functional water lines and electric transmission poles, but the 1,220-unit development remains largely a ghost town: Vegetation is more at home there than the survivors it was built to shelter.

The remains of the project tell a story of abandonment rather than vacancy. While the housing facility is officially populated, only 40% of it is currently occupied. A staggering 60% of the units are slowly being reclaimed by the elements.

This decay persists despite the fact that the 1,220 units have designated beneficiaries on paper. The dwellings are empty, not for lack of owners but because the promised security of the facility has failed to materialize into a livable reality.

The entrance to Tingib Homes, a 1,220-unit resettlement project built after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck the Philippines in 2013.

Out of reach

Melody Turiaga, a Yolanda survivor from Barangay Patria, says the resettlement project represents a promise that is perpetually out of reach. “I applied as early as when the houses were being built,” she says, recalling the repeated assurance that her family was on the priority list of beneficiaries.

Melody Turiaga prepares meat for barbecue for sale to provide for her family.

Her displacement is not a mere memory but a condition she lives with. Her original home was constantly flooded during heavy rains. “When Yolanda hit, I put my children in a plastic basin so we could escape the flood,” she recalls.

Today, Turiaga lives in a unit she does not legally own. “The owners just allowed us to stay for now,” she says in a tone more measured than resentful.

Her husband is a carpenter earning a small income, but it seems that rebuilding independently for the family is unattainable. “His salary is just enough for daily needs, so building a house isn’t realistic,” she says.

Her exclusion is difficult for Turiaga to understand given the stated criteria for beneficiaries. “We were displaced by Yolanda, and our home was in a danger zone near the river where flooding reaches neck level. Yet we were never included in the list,” she says.

Turiaga’s former home that was severely damaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” stands along a riverbank in Barangay Patria, Pandan.

Bitter irony

Despite the region’s losses from the world’s strongest typhoons so far, the investment in Tingib Homes has failed to result in a community. Units that should be occupied by families are instead rotting away or stripped of their parts by looters.

For those still displaced, the sight of these “completed” shells with working utilities is bitter irony—a reminder that a house requires more than just a roof and wires to become a home, and needs a family to stay.

Around 493 people now reside in Tingib Homes, according to Barangay Chair Antonio A. Tumnog. The occupancy figure highlights how much of the 1,220-unit settlement remains unused, but he points out that it is misleading because several families live in units they do not legally own, and are staying only with the absentee beneficiaries’ consent.

This legal gray area has quietly shaped how local officials engage with the settlement. Tingib Homes has not been formally turned over to the barangay, limiting its authority to concerns involving peace and order and basic sanitation.

Without a municipal ordinance clearly defining the responsibilities of the local government unit, the barangay, and the homeowners’ association, accountability often stalls before action begins.

“When an issue surfaces, responsibility gets passed around,” Tumnog says, describing a system where authority exists but direction is absent.

The homeowners’ association, which is expected to manage internal affairs, operates under similar constraints. Speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid personal and professional friction within the community, an official of the association explains that resistance to compulsory membership has weakened collective governance.

“Whether residents agree or not, they are required to join and follow the rules,” the official says, adding that refusal to comply prevents the association from functioning formally. Without unity, even basic development plans remain aspirational, not actionable.

The absence of land titles complicates enforcement and planning. While official representatives of the National Housing Authority have yet to respond to direct inquiries, the association official, who is familiar with the agency’s work process, indicates that unresolved documentation remains the primary hurdle for title distribution.

As a result, with no one clearly authorized to intervene, the unoccupied units are left to certain deterioration.

A housing unit in Tingib Homes trampled by soil erosion.A housing unit in Tingib Homes trampled by soil erosion.

Political considerations

Turiaga believes that political considerations shaped access to housing. She claims to have been told that supporting certain politicians could help her case.

While the Pandan municipal government has not issued an official response to these specific allegations, the lack of transparency in the selection process continues to fuel a sense of exclusion among the survivors left in legal limbo.

“Housing should not feel like a favor,” Turiaga says. “It’s supposed to be a right.”

Even residents who formally own units express hesitation about staying permanently. Elizabeth Tandog, also from Patria, says that safety concerns have kept her from fully settling in.

“There are many abandoned units near ours, and once, we returned to find our window broken,” she says. “Some areas don’t even have streetlights, so it feels unsafe.”

Livelihood access is a persistent concern. “Our source of income is still in Patria,” Tandog says, pointing out that relocation has disrupted, rather than secured, stability.

Structural gaps

Barangay Chair Tumnog acknowledges that Tingib Homes holds unrealized potential, with structural gaps evident in the absence of health centers, educational facilities, recreational spaces, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

“People were given houses, but not the support systems that a community needs,” Tumnog says. “A settlement cannot stand on shelter alone.”

At its core, the stagnation reflects systematic limitations rather than lack of funding. With no finalized turnover, no clear ordinance, and a beneficiary process clouded by political influence, progress is firmly stalled.

“The original purpose of the project was compromised,” Tumnog says in the course of calling for clearer policy and accountability. “Those who truly need housing should be the ones living there.”

The facility now sits at the intersection of intention and inaction, recovery having been delivered in form but stalled in function. Until roles are clarified, systems are strengthened, and people—not politics—are placed at the center of resettlement, the promise of “building back better” remains a mere slogan. CS

Nicole Faith Montiel is a psychology student at the University of Antique. She describes herself as a musician and human rights advocate whose interests lie in navigating the human psyche, music, and social justice.

First publishes in CoverStory – February 13, 2026

Nicole Faith Montiel

Don't Miss

MARRZ CAPANANG OPENS 6TH SOLO SHOW; ‘ART FOR EVERYONE 2025’ ONGOING

Published

2 months ago

March 26, 2026

Ted Aldwin Ong

*Art enthusiasts view the Marrz Capanang exhibit —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS*

ILOILO CITY—The artist Marrz Capanang opens “Mga Kalibutan/Realms,” his sixth solo exhibition, today, July 19, at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art.

“Kalibutan,” a Visayan term meaning “world,” “universe,” or “realm of existence,” sets the tone for a collection rooted in mysticism, animism, and cosmology.

Known for weaving the Hiligaynon language with visual poetics, Capanang again blurs the lines between the spiritual and the material, the intimate and the universal. His new show continues his exploration of layered realities and fluid identities, reflecting his roles as artist, collective member, and deeply feeling human being.

“Mga Kalibutan/Realms,” which is steeped in indigenous thought and animist philosophy, comes four months after his acclaimed exhibition in Alabang, titled “Bioluminescence,” and promises a deeper dive into the metaphysical territories that shape his practice.

The artist with one of his works.

It extends a lineage of conceptually rich exhibitions, from “Pangut-angut” (2016) to “Tahud” (2022), building a consistent narrative centered on reverence, connectivity, and transformation. With it, Capanang further affirms his place in contemporary Filipino art, where language, spirit, and image converge.

Nationwide art sale

At SM City Iloilo, the nationwide art sale dubbed “Art for Everyone 2025” is ongoing until July 31.

It is part of the second edition of the “Art Market” in July-October 2024, which featured more than 1,200 Filipino artists and over 4,000 artworks, and won for SM Supermalls the Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in the use of events.

‘Art for Everyone 2025’ exhibition

That exhibit highlighted 13 of Iloilo’s most respected and acclaimed artists and was held at SM City’s Northpoint entrance. It displayed works of Jonathan Arro, Ed Defensor, Vic Fario, Kevin Fernandez, Joy Fernando, Joel Ferraris, Nelson Ferraris, Harry Mark Gonzales, Nick Lanes, Paolo Gabriel Nabor, Vic Nabor, Ariel Pineda, and Querbyn.

“Art for Everyone 2025” provides a platform for both established and emerging artists to present their work to a broader audience for appreciation, education, and patronage. Many of last year’s featured artists are returning with new pieces.

This year, 18 SM Malls nationwide will participate in the program, offering an immersive experience across a variety of artistic media—from paintings and photography to digital art, mixed media, and sculpture.

First published in CoverStory – July 19, 2025

Ted Aldwin Ong

Environment

FILIPINO FISHERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AMID CHINA’S INTENSIFYING AGGRESSION

Published

2 months ago

March 26, 2026

Isa Jane Acabal

*Fisherman Christopher de Vera Sr. points out the safe areas in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal amid Chinese incursions into the West Philippine Sea. —PHOTOS BY ISA JANE ACABAL*

SAN SALVADOR ISLAND—With a piece of chalk, Christopher de Vera Sr. marked the sketch of a triangle-shaped Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on the board, labeling the entrance in the east and pointing out where Chinese vessels are often seen on patrol.

Laughter filled the venue of the meeting, a classroom of San Salvador High School in this island-village of Masinloc, Zambales, as he recounted being chased away by Chinese vessels when he attempted to enter the area.

De Vera is a member of the Bigkis Fisherfolk Federation, which met with the head of the Peoples Development Institute (PDI), a nongovernment organization, on July 9 to discuss the House of Representatives’ inquiry into China’s human rights violations against Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a letter sent to the House committee on human rights, PDI said Filipino fishers asserting their rights to Panatag’s resources are forced to endure severe harassment and intimidation by China, causing psychological trauma.

Ria Miclat-Teves, head of the Peoples Development Institute, discusses legislative action to help fishers suffering from the sea conflict.

China’s incursions into the WPS have environmental, economic, and social impact [negatively affecting] the Filipino fisherfolk whose right to food and right to personal security are being violated as they lose their main source of livelihood,” the letter read in part.

500 families

Rony Drio, 57, has been fishing in the West Philippine Sea since he was a teenager, and fishing is his means of supporting his eight children. Over 500 families on the island rely primarily on fishing to survive.

Map of the Masinloc-Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape —SCREENSHOT FROM ALLEN CORAL ATLAS

San Salvador is part of the 7,558-hectare Masinloc-Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape (MOPLS) under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-Nipas) Act of 2018. The law defines protected areas as specific portions of land and/or water reserved for their unique physical and biological diversity, and safeguarded against destructive human activities.

The MOBPLS is divided into multiple-use zones (where fishing is allowed) and strict protection zones.

Drio is engaged in spearfishing, while others use nets and hooks in compliance with the E-Nipas Act and the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

When typhoons and heavy rains prevent him from going out to sea, Drio tills a rice farm on the island in a sharing arrangement: Of the 10 sacks of palay harvested, the landowner gets three. “I only get a small income from it,” he said in Filipino.

How it was before

From February to June in the past, San Salvador fishers typically sailed to the municipal waters of Masinloc and headed to Panatag (or Bajo de Masinloc) to increase their catch. The shoal is approximately 120 nautical miles west of Masinloc, and its lagoon is known for abundant marine resources.

According to Bigkis president Randy Megu, 51, bright corals, visible during low tide, used to greet them when they entered the shoal. Further inside are white sandbars where they anchored their damaged boats for repair, he said.

The fishers recalled leaving home at midnight to be able to reach the shoal by morning, with daylight allowing them to easily locate its entrance. “We used to fish all day in Bajo de Masinloc,” Drio said.

But more than food, the shoal offered shelter to fishers during storms because of the serene waters in the lagoon. (In Filipino, Panatag means “calm.”)

All that changed in 2012 when, after a standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels, China seized control of Panatag. It deployed its coast guard and maritime militia, which bullied and chased Filipino fishers away from the area.

Megu recalled the Chinese forces seizing their catch and sometimes their belongings in exchange for a pack of cigarettes and two bottles of liquor.

The Filipinos are now unable to enter Panatag even during stormy weather.

Giant clams

And the Chinese forces’ increased harvesting of giant clams has gradually destroyed the marine environment. “The corals appeared to have become sand … and the fish decreased because of habitat loss,” Megu said.

In a 2023 report, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said 1,889 acres of reef in Scarborough Shoal have been damaged by Chinese fishers’ harvesting of giant clams.

The overall estimate of the CSIS, through its Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, is that China’s giant clam harvesting has damaged over 16,500 acres of reef in the South China Sea.

According to the CSIS report titled “Deep Blue Scars: Environmental Threats to the South China Sea,” Chinese fishers use either brass propellers dragged into reef surfaces or high-pressure water pumps to suck out giant clams, destroying the seabed.

The report analyzed commercial satellite imagery of 181 features of the South China Sea. It showed that China is the top reef destroyer in the South China Sea through dredging and land fill, burying roughly 4,648 acres of reefs to build artificial islands.

“Panatag used to shine because of the corals surrounding it. It still shines today, but because of the lights of Chinese ships in the area,” Megu said.

Slashed income

Gateway to San Salvador Island in Masinloc, Zambales —PHOTO BY ISA JANE ACABAL

According to the San Salvador fishers, their income has been cut nearly by half since China seized Panatag. They are now operating at a loss due to low catch and high expenses including diesel (of which they need between 100 and 1,000 liters per trip, depending on the boat size, at a cost of at least P60 per liter), and food (rice, groceries), as well as fishing bait.

The total expenses and the 10% commission for the boat owner are deducted from the revenue generated from the fish sales, Megu said, adding that the remaining amount is divided among the fishers aboard the boat.

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s sweeping claim over almost the entire South China Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The tribunal clarified that Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal constitutes fishing ground for nations including the Philippines, and ruled that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights by blocking Filipino fishers from these waters.

China continues to reject the arbitral ruling. In May 2024, China issued the “Provisions on Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures of Coast Guard Agencies” or the “China Coast Guard Order No. 3 of 2024,” a set of regulations outlining how its coast guard will carry out administrative law enforcement operations.

The new regulation authorizes China’s coast guard to detain for up to 60 days foreigners suspected of violating exit and entry rules in waters it claims.

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has said that enforcing these regulations in the West Philippine Sea would be “in direct violation of international law.”

“Every sovereign state has the right to formulate and enact laws … however, a state’s domestic laws may not be applied and enforced in the territory, maritime zones or jurisdiction of other states,” the DFA statement read.

Fear

Still, Filipinos are avoiding fishing near Panatag for fear of what Chinese forces will do. “We have fear. We are afraid to fish there,” Drio said.

Bigkis urged the government to protect Filipinos and continue fighting for the Filipinos’ right to fish in the West Philippine Sea.

Drio said the group had been calling on the authorities “to watch over us for our safety and peace of mind when we are fishing” in Panatag. But he acknowledged that it was a challenge considering China’s continuing aggression.

While Filipino fishers want the Philippine Coast Guard to be present and to extend help when they need it to ease their fear, “there’s nothing we can do,” Drio said. “From what I see now, it’s difficult because even our uniformed personnel at sea are being blocked.”

Like Drio, Megu believes that the government should step up its efforts to resolve the conflict between the Philippines and China.

“They should find a way to solve this problem and restore the vigor and freedom of Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc,” Megu said.

Isa Jane Acabal, a journalism student of the University of the Philippines’ College of Mass Communication in Diliman, is an intern at CoverStory.ph.

First published in CoverStory – July 30, 2024

Isa Jane Acabal

‘KASADYAHAN’ VS ‘DINAGYANG’: A BATTLE OF FESTIVALS IN ILOILO

Published

2 months ago

March 24, 2026

Cheryl Luis True

*Festival dancers in Dinagyang Festival last year. —ILOILO CITY FACEBOOK PHOTOS*

ILOILO CITY—Ilonggos and their guests can expect a double treat of weekend revelry when the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan” and “Dinagyang” go centerstage one after the other on Jan. 27 and 28 in this city, in what looms as a face-off of festivals reflecting the dynamism of local culture, faith and tradition.

“This year’s Kasadyahan is something to watch out for, like a dish with plenty of ingredients that will undoubtedly delight your taste buds,” local foodie content creator Lyca said on Thursday.

“Just as our Dinagyang used to be seasoned only with vinegar and fish sauce, it has now elevated its flavor!” Lyca said. “Let’s see … which performance will truly fill our hearts.”

Organizers are expecting thousands of people to crowd the city streets in both events which, though differently themed, offer a similar spectacle of merrymaking with performers in colorful indigenous attire dancing their best to the beat of drums for prestige and cash prizes.

For the first time, provincial and city officials are hosting the festivals separately, for still unclear reasons. The decision has nonetheless sparked excitement and debate, as both local government units strive to showcase their interpretation of Ilonggo culture and character.

9 towns

A festival celebration of the Santo Niño

According to Provincial Board Member June Mondejar, the province of Iloilo has allocated P1 million to each of the nine towns, mostly in the second district, that will participate in Kasadyahan’s Festival of Festivals to highlight their unique products. Iloilo has a total of 42 towns and 18 festivals.

Donut, a student of Iloilo Science and Technology University, believes that Kasadyahan is “poised for significant improvement, especially with the province allocating a generous budget for the event. The competition among municipalities is expected to be highly challenging.”

A common strand binding the town festivals is the Kasadyahan theme: “Fun, Foodie, Friendly Iloilo.”

Leon’s Kaing Festival, named after the native basket “kaing,” is a tribute to the town’s bounty of farm produce and natural resources, and vibrant farming traditions. Banate has the Kasag Festival, named after the “kasag” (blue crab) shell, which was once used as local currency.

In Leganes, the Saad Festival is a religious celebration derived from the Hiligaynon word “saad” or faith. Oton has the Katagman Festival, a cultural event steeped in history (Oton’s old name is Katagman) and heritage.

Maasin’s Tultugan Festival is a mesmerizing display of rhythm and melody, featuring traditional musical instruments that echo the town’s musical legacy. Anilao’s Banaag Festival brings forth the radiant spirit of the town, illuminating its history and traditions through dazzling lights and colors.

New Lucena’s Cry of Jelicuon Festival commemorates significant events in the revolt against the Spanish colonizers that shaped the town’s identity. Calinog holds the Hinirugyaw-Sugidanon Festival to honor the Santo Niño and promote the culture and identity of the Panay Bukidnon indigenous people.

Zarraga has the Pantat Festival to present the town’s top marine produce, the “pantat” (mudfish).

Devotion to the Child Jesus

With this year’s theme “Pagdayaw kay Señor Santo Niño, Padayaw sang mga Ilonggo,” the Dinagyang Festival highlights the Ilonggos’ devotion to the Child Jesus and commemorates the arrival of Malay settlers in Panay Island.

It started in 1968, when a replica of the original image of the Santo Niño de Cebu was given as a gift to the San Jose Parish in Iloilo City by Fr. Sulpicio Enderez of Cebu. The people welcomed the image by holding a street parade.

The city’s festival celebration has evolved into one of the country’s top tourist attractions, with street dancers in colorful tribal wear and sooty bodies drawing inspiration from Cebu’s Sinulog Festival and Aklan’s Ati-Atihan Festival.

This year, eight groups representing school-based “tribes” are competing in the street dancing contest. These are Tribu Taga-Baryo (Bo. Obrero National High School), Tribu Mandu-Riyaw (Mandurriao National High School), Tribu Paghidaet (La Paz National High School), Tribu Pan-ay (Fort San Pedro National High School), Tribu Salognon (Jaro National High School), Tribu Sigabong (Ramon Avanceña National High School), Tribu Ilonganon (Jalandoni Memorial National High School), and Tribu Silak (Iloilo City National High School).

Dinagyang has boosted local businesses, promoted economic growth and fostered a sense of pride among Ilonggos. Through the years it has established a reputation as a crowd-drawer and built a strong sense of community.

On the other hand, Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan 2024 brings fresh energy to the festival scene in Iloilo but faces the challenge, as a newcomer, to prove its authenticity and ability to capture the essence of Ilonggo culture without overshadowing the Dinagyang.

Jeorge, a frequent Dinagyang visitor, recalled the Kasadyahan’s beginnings: “Ever since the opening of Kasadyahan, I’ve consistently found it captivating, as it holds a unique charm compared to Dinagyang, which the province truly cherishes. With this constant comparison, I have high expectations for an even more elevated Dinagyang experience!”

Cheryl M. Luis also writes for OpinYon Panay.

First published in CoverStory – January 19, 2024