Institutional Challenges in Siargao’s Recovery

“The people that we perceive to be marginalised, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and overlooked, we can make it possible for them. And I am excited for that better future that awaits the world.”

Ram M. Jaylo, Senior Project Officer at Calls Over Ridges Philippines

As an international organisation based in four countries affected by natural disasters, Calls Over Ridges (COR) cannot deny its influence on the sustainability of education systems. Drawn to Nepal by the lasting impact of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, our matured strategies were brought seven years later to the Siargao Islands in its recovery from Super Typhoon Odette, a Category 5 tropical storm that made landfall on December 16th, 2021.

The establishment of Calls Over Ridges Philippines (CORPh) in 2022 began with a mission to support existing community and government initiatives by mobilising resources. Now, four ongoing programs – the Scholarship Program, Nutrition Program, School Boat Program and Literacy Enrichment Program – are meeting fundamental needs with the even greater ambition to restore the fractured education ecosystem.

A Fractured Education Ecosystem

Visiting Siargao in August 2024, the recurring theme of disaster recovery and resilience crept into many of my conversations with local partners. Typhoon Odette hit Siargao the hardest, exacerbating inequalities deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic. With estimated damages costing ₱20 billion ($388 million USD), more than 180,000 local Siargaonons dependent on tourism, fishing and coconut farming suddenly had to grapple with a loss of income along with lacking healthcare facilities, poor sanitation and devastated buildings.

According to the UNICEF Humanitarian Situation Report, an estimated 12 million children across the country were affected by suspended or interrupted learning. Worst hit was the Caraga Region and Southern Leyte as the damage sustained ultimately extended the period of distance learning imposed by the pandemic to about two years. Construction delays also meant that many of the 30,000 local students in Siargao could only learn in temporary shelters and makeshift classrooms.

Despite the gradual recovery of learning spaces, families still struggled to prioritise education. With low-value agricultural produce and dwindling fish stocks, residents are increasingly pushed to take advantage of the feverish popularity of Siargao’s pristine beaches, numerous surf spots and growing hospitality sector in areas like General Luna.

Interventions Needed Now More than Ever

Absenteeism due to financial constraints is a significant concern for many families that have to compete to make a living. This pressure for school-age children to start work is exactly what the locally contextualized Island Scholarship Integrated Program (ISIP) hopes to address. Discussing the necessity of the Scholarship Program, Daniel L. Dumpa, Social Welfare and Development Officer for Del Carmen Municipality explained:

“I know some of the families who are very, if I may say it, survival level. Meaning they can only, isang kahig, isang tuka. It’s difficult to say that…but they are very impoverished.”

Referring to how chickens search the ground for seeds to unearth and eat, the phrase “isang kahig, isang tuka” is a Filipino idiom describing the constant struggle of only earning enough to eat. Literally translated to “one scratch, one peck”, the gruelling grind of living in scarcity is the reality for thousands of families trying to support their children who are falling further and further behind.

The literacy “gap”, Richmond explained, was lasting regional disparity in literacy rates nationally. According to the 2020 government census, the illiteracy rate of the Caraga Region is almost double the national average and ranks the third lowest region for literacy rates. What’s more, less than desirable PISA scores in 2022 made the Philippines the 5th lowest performing country in reading, mathematics and science. According to Daniel Benito, Executive Director of The Storytelling Project, some of these results can be attributed to an overall lack of motivation to learn, especially in reading.

Witnessing several storytelling workshops myself, I immediately understood why CORPh, Richmond and Daniel championed the “creative library space” concept over a traditional library. Students needed to feel brave in tackling books they struggled to read, excited to explore what each had to offer, and safe to express themselves after going through a traumatic experience.

Moving Forward with Hope

Based on the belief that Educational Access and Quality Education are two sides of the same coin, CORPh’s programs aim to uncover a pathway to recovery fueled by community collaboration. Discussing the value of holistic childhood development, CORPh Senior Project Officer Ram Jayo emphasised why every program needs to go beyond handouts but into empowerment.

With six areas covered, over 300 children served and ambitions to expand, I believe the recovery of Siargao looks hopeful. Although basic services are scarce and reconstruction efforts ongoing, the resilience of its residents and joyful students serves as a key motivation behind COR’s interventions and CORPh’s mission for thriving institutions.