Report: Ruth Carlos Martinez re. delivery of RCM goods to : January 2019

"This typhoon occurred in September and destroyed villages, hardest hit being the municipality of , province. Unfortunately, another typhoon - Rosita occurred in October and hardest hit was Tanudan, Kalinga province.

The following incidents occurred as part of the distribution, Customs clearance and further 12 hours transhipment up inland northern Philippines. Two typhoons occurred at Tabuk, Kalinga (Ompong in September; Rosita in October). Villages were wiped out.

RCMelbourne team with Donations in Kind collated, packed, and shipped 35 aid boxes to Tabuk. In conjunction with the Tabuk WS site visit, I then, coordinated the distribution, logistics, land transfer in the mountainous damaged villages. Roads impassable, community in chaos, so I asked support from the Philippines Military, Dept of Social Welfare, National Disaster Resource Management.

After clearance from Philippines' Customs, the boxes were transferred and trucked to northern Philippines - 12 hours. Due to the quantity of boxes and to avoid looting, I had to find a secure storage area and requested the President of the Kalinga State University (Rotarian Eduardo Bagtang) to store and keep the boxes secure under lock, until the roads were cleared from the landslides.

Processes were provided to all concerned and the distribution was set for early December. Destinations hardest hit: Balbalan & Tanudan. The distribution completed without negative incidences; while chaotic - the military were in attendance to keep order. Assisted by: Philippines Military, Dept of Social Welfare, National Disaster Resource Management, RC Tabuk, me, Rotary volunteer Kurt Walder.

Goods were distributed to the Municipalities of Balbalan, Barangays of Balanoy and . However, due to roads still being impassable towards Mt Patukan, at Tanudan, during my visit, the last 10 boxes will now be distributed on the 12 July. (see below the processes)."

From the typhoon victims of Kalinga: " heartfelt gratitude to the good and kind people of Rotary in Melbourne and Donations in Kind. We will have a taste of hope for our Christmas. God bless them."