Philippines

We have responded to disasters in the Philippines more than any other country.

Since 2004 we have responded more than 25 times in the country to various devastating disasters such as storms, typhoons, floods, cyclones, and earthquakes.

One of the largest disasters we responded to in the Philippines was Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Typhoon Yolanda. Haiyan was the most powerful storm in 2013 and one of the most powerful tropical cyclones of all time.

More recently, we have supported families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing shelter for families living in evacuation centers and with host families after the Taal volcano eruption, so they could socially distance.

A family who received a ShelterBox tent after Typhoon Haiyan

Warm ocean waters, low-lying coasts, poverty and geography help explain why the Philippines is so prone to disasters.

Located just above the equator, the Philippines faces the western Pacific without much else in the way to take the force of storms before they make landfall. Those warm, equatorial waters power about 20 typhoons a year.

In recent decades, a lot of people have flocked to risky, low-lying islands – havens for cheap and crammed housing. The rapidly constructed housing and inadequate evacuation plans mean that the local population is left vulnerable when disaster strikes. Existing houses are unable to withstand the extreme weather conditions.

On top of everything else, the country’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire means it is prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms and typhoons.

The country also experiences monsoon rains across the country which can lead to flooding and landslides.

Source: National Geographic

PHILIPPINES TIMELINE

2000 – ShelterBox was founded in Helston, Cornwall.

2004 – Typhoon Nanmadol, locally known as Yoyong, hits the Philippines and ShelterBox responds soon after.

2009 – Typhoon Parma, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Pepeng, was the second typhoon to affect the Philippines within the span of a week. We supported nearly 650 families.

2011 – We supported families in Luzon following Typhoon Pedring, known locally as Nesat.

2013 – Typhoon Bopha, known in the Philippines as Pablo, devastates the Philippines. We responded in the area of Mindanao, supporting over 1,200 families.

2013 – Typhoon Haiyan, known as Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, wreaking havoc in the country. we responded with supporting nearly 3,500 families.

2014 – Typhoon Rammasun, also known as Typhoon Glenda, was one of the only two Category 5 super typhoons on record in the South China Sea. We supported more than 1,000 families in the area of Legazpi.

2017 – ShelterBox Operations Philippines is established as a non-government organization.

2018 – Also known as Ompong in the Philippines, Super Typhoon Mangkhut ripped through the Philippines’ main island of Luzon. We responded by supporting over 1,000 families in the area.

2019 – We supported families after the devastating Tropical Storm Usman at the beginning of the year, after three powerful earthquakes shook Mindanao island in October, and again after Typhoon Kammuri destroyed homes in December 2019.

2020 – We have supported around 2,000 families after the Taal Volcano erupted in January 2020. Families needed support to create space for social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak.

2020 – We have supported families with essential aid to enable them to rebuild their homes and protect themselves from coronavirus, after Typhoon Vongfong (local name Ambo).

2021 – After Typhoon Rai (known locally as Typhoon Odette) caused mass devastation in December 2021, we supported over 20,000 people.

ShelterBox Operations Philippines is a new NGO, locally registered in the Philippines and run by ShelterBox Operations HQ in the UK.

ShelterBox Operations Philippines allows us to locally store aid items in the province of Cebu so that we can respond and distribute fast and efficiently within the country, whenever disaster strikes.

This is a first for ShelterBox – setting up ShelterBox Operations Philippines is an achievement we celebrate and feel proud of.

It’s a great example of our flexible and agile model at work, which enables us to ensure we’re well-placed to reach families as quickly as possible when disaster strikes.

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