Growing abaca is no easy feat. Known as “Manila hemp,” this world-renowned fiber requires immense patience and effort to cultivate. Farmers must wait three to four years for abaca plants to mature, tending to them with care despite the high costs of cultivation.

Once harvested, the fibers undergo a labor-intensive process to be dried and stripped—a task made even more difficult by inclement weather. For farmers in Catanduanes, these challenges are part of daily life, but the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Pepito and Typhoon Kristine compounded their struggles.

The back-to-back storms left fields destroyed, homes unroofed, and livelihoods in ruins. Abaca, often regarded as a lifeline for these communities, was among the hardest hit.

Fortunately, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office V – Bicol Region stepped in to provide critical assistance, ensuring that affected families, particularly in Catanduanes, received the support they desperately needed.

Lives Uprooted, Livelihoods Lost

The damage to vital industries like abaca farming has left countless families grappling with uncertainty. For small-scale farmers who depend on the resilient yet vulnerable abaca plant, the storms’ devastation has been life-altering.

Susan Tumpang, 57, from Paraiso, San Miguel, recalls the chaos following Pepito’s landfall.

“Mahirap po kasi naglikas kami sa ibang bahay kasi yung bahay namin tinubig,” (“It was difficult because we had to evacuate to another house since ours was flooded”), she shares.

Their home, located near a river, became uninhabitable when heavy rains and strong winds tore through their kitchen and ripped off the roof.

“Nasira lahat, mga 80%, pati yung niyog naubos,” (“Everything was destroyed, around 80%, even the coconut trees were gone”) Susan laments, referring to her family’s primary livelihood—abaca farming.

With no income from abaca or copra, Susan and her family now rely on relief goods while they attempt to rebuild their lives.

Thankfully, Susan became one of the first beneficiaries to receive cash assistance from the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program on November 21, 2024. She and other beneficiaries received PHP 5,000 in cash.

“Magagamit na po namin yung pera sa pagpaayos ng bahay, pambili ng bubong, pako, pagkain,” (“We can now use the money to fix our house, buy roofing materials, nails, and food”) Susan says, viewing the cash assistance as a lifeline in the days ahead.

Another farmer, Sandy Tresvalles, 47, shares a similar struggle.

“Tubok baga ngunyan, dai man ning maano (hahaguton) ngunyan, ikapilang bulan dai nang tatarbahuhan, makonstraksiyon na kung igwang konstraksiyon. Kun dai man ta dai man ibang hanapbuhay, paghahagot uya sa Catanduanes,” (“The abaca now, it can’t really be used. We’ve been stripping fibers, but for months now, there’s no stable work. I’ll take construction jobs if there are any. If not, since there’s no other source of income, stripping abaca remains our livelihood here in Catanduanes”), he recounts, describing how their already meager income as “parahagot”—those who strip and process abaca fibers—has dried up.

Planting new abaca requires years of waiting before harvest, leaving him to seek temporary work in construction to make ends meet. Despite these hardships, Sandy emphasizes how the financial aid from the agency has helped his family.

“Dakulang tuwang man yan samuya na inagihan ning bagyo, na dai pa nakatarbaho ta igwa na namang pigtabang na 5,000,” (“It’s a huge help for us. After going through the typhoon and not being able to work, receiving PHP 5,000 in aid is a blessing”), he says. Sandy plans to use the money to replace his home’s roofing and as capital to grow other crops while waiting for the abaca plants to mature.

The struggles of Susan and Sandy reflect the broader challenges faced by the abaca industry in the Philippines. As one of the world’s leading exporters of the fiber, the country supplies nearly 85% of the global abaca demand, with Catanduanes being one of its top producers. The loss of abaca farms not only impacts local livelihoods but also disrupts the global supply chain of this highly sought-after commodity.

A Lifeline for Recovery

Amid these hardships, the DSWD FOV acted swiftly to provide vital support. The agency had prepositioned over 10,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) across Catanduanes in anticipation of Pepito’s impact.

Region-wide, nearly 98,300 families have been assisted with over 96,000 FFPs and 580 Non-Food Items (NFIs) to meet their immediate needs. In Catanduanes alone, 36,600 families received aid worth PHP 28.41 million, comprising 36,200 FFPs and 250 NFIs.

The agency’s financial assistance programs have also played a pivotal role. Through the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program, 411 beneficiaries in Catanduanes received a combined PHP 2.06 million in aid. These programs, along with AICS, have been instrumental in helping families like Susan’s and Sandy’s regain stability.

Sandy and Susan both plan to use the financial aid to replace their home’s roofing, a priority before the next rainfall arrives. They are grateful for how these initiatives not only provide immediate relief but also pave the way for long-term recovery.

This swift and comprehensive disaster response by DSWD Bicol underscores the agency’s commitment to uplifting marginalized communities during crises.

Programs like AICS and AKAP offer immediate, targeted relief, while broader financial assistance efforts empower affected individuals to begin the slow process of rebuilding.

In areas like Catanduanes, where natural disasters are frequent and livelihoods precarious, such interventions are not just helpful—they are lifesaving.

Moving Forward

As Catanduanes’ farmers begin to rebuild, the road ahead remains long. Rebuilding homes and restoring abaca farms will take years of effort, but with continued support from the government and local agencies, communities can look toward a future of resilience and recovery.

For Susan, Sandy, and countless others, the DSWD’s assistance is more than just a lifeline—it is a testament to the power of collective action in overcoming life’s most formidable challenges.

“Hindi kami nakakalimutan,” (“They never forget us”) Sandy says, summing up the sentiment of a region battered but unbowed. “Salamat po sa lahat ng tulong.” (“Thank you so much for all your help.”)