35.82
Poverty index (2021)
Daanbantayan
Discover one of our first areas of operation on Cebu Island
The Reach of the Visayas
Daanbantayan is a large municipality situated at the northernmost end of the island of Cebu. It comprises an area of 92,27 km2 (about twice the size of Luxembourg City).
The name Daanbantayan is derived from the two words daan, which means "old" in Cebuano, and bantayan, which refers to a lookout for Moro raiders in the Pre-Hispanic period. The original site of the town is estimated to have been at an elevated vantage point around Tapilon. In honour of Datu Daya, the legendary founder of the settlement, locals hold an annual celebration known as Haladaya Festival, a highlight of which is a popular street-dancing performance.
Daanbantayan is known for its pristine, white powder-like sandy beaches. The area offers vast and unique marine life, which makes it particularly attractive for diving expeditions. Malapascua Island and Monad Shoal, situated just off the coast, have become quite popular among divers.
The name Daanbantayan is derived from the two words daan, which means "old" in Cebuano, and bantayan, which refers to a lookout for Moro raiders in the Pre-Hispanic period. The original site of the town is estimated to have been at an elevated vantage point around Tapilon. In honour of Datu Daya, the legendary founder of the settlement, locals hold an annual celebration known as Haladaya Festival, a highlight of which is a popular street-dancing performance.
Daanbantayan is known for its pristine, white powder-like sandy beaches. The area offers vast and unique marine life, which makes it particularly attractive for diving expeditions. Malapascua Island and Monad Shoal, situated just off the coast, have become quite popular among divers.
At a glance
Daanbantayan is subdivided into 20 barangays, some of which feel a bit more rural than others. The Municipal Hall is situated in Poblacion. Cebuano and Tagalog are amongst the languages most commonly used in the region. Since our first initiative in 2013, we are particularly active in Barangays Agujo and Tapilon.
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Where it all started
Daanbantayan was severely hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013. The storm passed directly over the municipality, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. 9 people were killed and 50 were injured. Daanbantayan was one of three communities that were completely destroyed.
To keep an overview of the relatively large municipality, we focused more closely on Barangay Agujo where, despite help from various organisations, almost no decent houses stood, even months after. Many houses were patched together with old metal sheets, which would only be destroyed by the next small storm.
We selected Agujo, one of the most affected barangays, for our housing project. Here, we offered hope for a better life to the families who lost their entire homes. The respective families were selected according to specific criteria. For instance, families with many children, elderly people, individuals without jobs and without any prospects of getting one soon were targeted in particular. However, people with severe illnesses were also given priority.
To keep an overview of the relatively large municipality, we focused more closely on Barangay Agujo where, despite help from various organisations, almost no decent houses stood, even months after. Many houses were patched together with old metal sheets, which would only be destroyed by the next small storm.
We selected Agujo, one of the most affected barangays, for our housing project. Here, we offered hope for a better life to the families who lost their entire homes. The respective families were selected according to specific criteria. For instance, families with many children, elderly people, individuals without jobs and without any prospects of getting one soon were targeted in particular. However, people with severe illnesses were also given priority.
Bayanihan Project
In Filipino culture, Bayanihan represents a sense of communal unity and solidarity, particularly in times of need. It describes the idea of helping others for the greater good, without expecting anything in return. This concept originates from the practice of volunteers in a community helping a family move by literally carrying the house itself.
This is why we named our housing initiative Bayanihan Project in order to emphasise the cultural cooperation between the Filipino and Luxembourgish communities. Our housing project was executed in three phases.
In the first phase, we tackled the repair of 15 houses. Our beneficiaries received the materials from us and did the work themselves.
14 houses were built in collaboration with a partner NGO from Luxembourg and with the support of the Luxembourgish Ministry of Cooperation. As part of this collaboration, 5 public toilets were built as well.
Subsequently, five more houses were built for families who were particularly in need.
A closer look at our houses
Our houses are adapted to the Philippine weather conditions as well as environmental challenges. We maintain the traditional architectural style and, whenever possible, purchase our materials from local suppliers only.
The houses stand on pillars that are firmly concreted into the ground, providing the necessary stability. The height of the pillars varies depending on the flood risk in each area. A stable wooden frame is built on these pillars and fastened with screws. Prefabricated walls are added to this wooden frame, onto which we attach Amakan (bamboo) on the outside and waterproof plywood on the inside. Stability braces are incorporated into these walls, which are not visible from the outside. The roof consists of galvanised corrugated iron, and a gutter is installed to allow families to collect rainwater in a barrel.
This construction style has numerous advantages. For example, if a family has to leave their land for any reason, they can unscrew the components, transfer them to another site, and reassemble the house there. The construction of each house is the same, but the size is adjusted according to criteria tailored to each family.
Due to the sturdy construction, the houses are equipped to withstand almost any weather condition. In December 2014, two typhoons, Hagupit and Seniang, swept over the Philippines with winds of 220 km/h. Remarkably, none of our houses sustained any damage, while others in the vicinity were completely destroyed.
Documents and official papers
To ensure no aspect is overlooked and to provide the most comprehensive work possible, it is of utmost importance for us to address the legal and administrative aspects thoroughly. This enables the beneficiaries to embark on a new start in life, without being hindered by secondary paperwork from their past. Essentially, we signed agreements with the property owners and landholders, allowing our beneficiaries to reside on the respective land. We also work closely with official entities such as the local government and the land registry to prevent any legal misunderstandings or issues.
A contract was drawn up with a local lawyer, which was signed by each beneficiary. These contracts were then registered with the local government and the land registry.
A contract was drawn up with a local lawyer, which was signed by each beneficiary. These contracts were then registered with the local government and the land registry.
School Project
Many families cannot afford to send their children to school because they lack the financial means. This has motivated us to cover school costs for children who would otherwise never see the inside of a school without our help.
The sponsorship includes, among other things, a complete school uniform from head to toe, which is mandatory in Philippine schools. We also provide the children with notebooks, books and other necessary school supplies, as well as the registration fee. Furthermore, we cover the incidental costs that arise during the school year (e.g. drawing paper). At Agujo Elementary School, we currently have 20 children in this project, and at Tapilon High School, there are 21 children under our care.
Another challenge for school success lies in the fact that many parents feel forced to take their children out of school after elementary school and send them to work. These approximately 12-year-old children then face a preprogrammed difficulty and hard life. That is one reason why we also support children during their high school years.
Starting from the 2018 school year, it is possible to sponsor one of these children. You can cover the annual costs for one of the boys or girls. This way, you can even enable them to leap to a university and thus give them a chance for a better future. It is also encouraged that you, as a sponsor, stay in contact with the child for support.
The sponsorship includes, among other things, a complete school uniform from head to toe, which is mandatory in Philippine schools. We also provide the children with notebooks, books and other necessary school supplies, as well as the registration fee. Furthermore, we cover the incidental costs that arise during the school year (e.g. drawing paper). At Agujo Elementary School, we currently have 20 children in this project, and at Tapilon High School, there are 21 children under our care.
Another challenge for school success lies in the fact that many parents feel forced to take their children out of school after elementary school and send them to work. These approximately 12-year-old children then face a preprogrammed difficulty and hard life. That is one reason why we also support children during their high school years.
Starting from the 2018 school year, it is possible to sponsor one of these children. You can cover the annual costs for one of the boys or girls. This way, you can even enable them to leap to a university and thus give them a chance for a better future. It is also encouraged that you, as a sponsor, stay in contact with the child for support.
IT Project
Many schools themselves were also affected by the immense natural disaster. This impact was not limited to the damage and partial destruction of school buildings and facilities, but also the educational materials suffered greatly. In many schools, the IT equipment was no longer usable. With a lack of financial resources to replace the equipment, this would become another challenge to overcome. This is precisely where our IT project comes into play.
At the moment, we are in the process of contacting the individual schools and gathering information. We are talking to the principals and the responsible teaching staff of the respective schools to find out what exactly was destroyed, what they need and what they plan to do with the new equipment. Based on the number of teachers and students and the collected information, an estimate will be made of how much and what kind of material we can provide to the individual schools. Unfortunately, our resources are also limited here, so we cannot support every school as much as would be necessary. It is planned that in February 2016, a team of IT specialists from Luxembourg will come to Agujo as volunteers to work with the students and teachers of the Technical University (Cebu Technical University) to set up the IT project.
At the moment, we are in the process of contacting the individual schools and gathering information. We are talking to the principals and the responsible teaching staff of the respective schools to find out what exactly was destroyed, what they need and what they plan to do with the new equipment. Based on the number of teachers and students and the collected information, an estimate will be made of how much and what kind of material we can provide to the individual schools. Unfortunately, our resources are also limited here, so we cannot support every school as much as would be necessary. It is planned that in February 2016, a team of IT specialists from Luxembourg will come to Agujo as volunteers to work with the students and teachers of the Technical University (Cebu Technical University) to set up the IT project.
Livelihood
Another project of ours is the so-called Livelihood initiative. After Super Typhoon Yolanda, many people lost their professional tools and were thus unable to continue practicing their profession because they simply lacked the necessary financial means to buy their tools again.
We provided people from various professional groups with the necessary tools or materials. In return, they must pay a small amount into a common fund every month. This can be described as a small cooperative. The funds thus accumulated are used to cover ongoing costs or repairs, so we can keep the project running without having to continue financially supporting it ourselves.
Our goal is not just to give things away but to empower the families and help them get back on their feet so that they can resume their work and secure a steady income and stable life. This project is managed by the beneficiaries themselves.
We provided people from various professional groups with the necessary tools or materials. In return, they must pay a small amount into a common fund every month. This can be described as a small cooperative. The funds thus accumulated are used to cover ongoing costs or repairs, so we can keep the project running without having to continue financially supporting it ourselves.
Our goal is not just to give things away but to empower the families and help them get back on their feet so that they can resume their work and secure a steady income and stable life. This project is managed by the beneficiaries themselves.
Clinic Project
In 2014, we started a project focused on the health rehabilitation of sick individuals and people in need who cannot afford the necessary medications and treatments. As part of this project, we build a small clinic where we stock Luxembourgish as well as Philippine based medication. These medications are distributed to people who need them but do not have the means to buy them themselves or have them prescribed by a doctor.
This led us to the next issue we aim to address with this project: In order to improve healthcare services in the community, we aim at have a doctor visit our clinic regularly to examine the people and prescribe the necessary medications or treatments, which we will then provide free of charge.
This led us to the next issue we aim to address with this project: In order to improve healthcare services in the community, we aim at have a doctor visit our clinic regularly to examine the people and prescribe the necessary medications or treatments, which we will then provide free of charge.
WeGoSolar
For many families in our area of operation, access to the power grid and therefore to a lighting supplier is either impossible or unaffordable to this day. As a result, light has become a luxury good in a region where the sun sets at 5.30 pm every day with public lighting being virtually non-existent.
In the course of our school support programmes, we often encounter children who have to do their homework under the flickering, smoky light of a paraffin lamp. Apart from the negative health effects on the eyes and respiratory tract, the use of such paraffin lamps with an open flame in the poor dwellings also harbours a risk of accidents, fires and injuries that should not be underestimated.
That is why we have founded the WeGoSolar project. We strive to bring light into the homes of families in need with the help of small solar panels in order to improve their quality of life.
In the course of our school support programmes, we often encounter children who have to do their homework under the flickering, smoky light of a paraffin lamp. Apart from the negative health effects on the eyes and respiratory tract, the use of such paraffin lamps with an open flame in the poor dwellings also harbours a risk of accidents, fires and injuries that should not be underestimated.
That is why we have founded the WeGoSolar project. We strive to bring light into the homes of families in need with the help of small solar panels in order to improve their quality of life.
