On April 6, 2014, the workshop in different barangays in Ormoc City and Merida Town had started after completing the installation of ICT stations and CA systems in connection to Philippine Typhoon Yolanda Aid.

 

The workshop first started at Barangay Casilda which was attended by the Barangay Captain, Barangay Councilors and the residents of the barangay. There were so many people that they couldn’t fit inside the hall, thus, some of them had to stand by the window to listen to the workshop with the eyes of curiosity in each one of them.

 

November 8, 2014 – Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated the center of Leyte Province ? Tacloban City and its neighbouring towns and cities, including Ormoc and Merida. The affected area is vast thus the recovery has been slow due to the lack of technicians of the power utility company to restore the island’s electricity supply.

 

In order to hasten the recovery, Community Addressing (CA) System and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) station ? includes laptop, printer, amplifier ? were delivered. Due to the total shutdown of power grid lines that took place after the disaster, it was impossible to power up the equipment, thus, Solar Power Generator was supplied. The residents have been using this as the primary source of power as this doesn’t require any fuel ? used by over 1,000 people to recharge their gadgets and residential lights for free.

 

The workshop was intended to help the locals become self-efficient to operate and maintain the equipment after its delivery. Dondon (nickname) – his real name is Antonio Montejo III, the local staff, gearing up at the center to facilitate the workshop.

 

The lecture included how to use and maintain the Solar Generator, CA System, Mobile Wi-Fi router, and Laptop.

 

　

The workshop was held 7 times a week from April 6, 2014. It was completed on April 16, 2014 before the Holy Week ? a Christian event in the Philippines. The manual for the workshop has been shown to the participants during the workshop and was open for feedback before finally laminating it upon its delivery. This project is due to end in the middle of May 2014.

Translated by Antonio Montejo III (Assistant BHN philipine typhoon AID project)