MANILA, Philippines—To return a favor their town received during a time of need, members of St. Bernard municipal disaster and coordinating council went to Manila to bring and distribute relief items to victims of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” (international codename: Ketsana).

“It’s just appropriate for us to pursue the cause just like what the whole world did for us during the 2006 Guinsaugon Tragedy,” said Jane Araneta, executive assistant of St. Bernard Mayor Rico Rentusa.

Araneta said the team, headed by the mayor, would coordinate relief efforts with the staff of Strengthening Assets and Capacities of Communities and Local Governments for Resilience to Disasters (Accord) in Rizal province.

Accord, a project of the European Commission’s humanitarian aid department and the Corporate Network for Disaster Response, aims to help communities increase their capacity to reduce risks posed by disasters. Guinsaugon made headlines in February 2006 when, after two weeks of heavy rains, a portion of Mt. Kan-abag collapsed, covering Guinsaugon in hundreds of tons of rocks, mud and debris and burying alive at least 1,000 people.

The Southern Leyte provincial government and the local governments of Maasin City and other municipalities also conducted relief campaigns for the victims of Ondoy.

Guinsaugon made headlines around the world in February 2006 when, after two weeks of heavy rains, a portion of Mt. Kan-abag collapsed, covering Guinsaugon in hundreds of tons of rocks, mud and debris and burying alive at least 1,000 people.

Jolly Ann Gibe, assistant manager of a project that helps survivors move on, said she talked with a resident of another village near the landslide site, Tambis, who had expressed fears of another disaster as a result of a sharply altered weather pattern.

In an e-mail, Gibe quoted the resident as saying Metro Manila’s experience with Ondoy highlights the need for preparedness.

Gibe’s group, called Strengthening Assets and Capacities of Communities and Local Governments for Resilience to Disasters (Accord), will hold on Friday simultaneous flood and landslide drills for the villages of Tambis and Esperanza, which is also near the landslide site.

Jani Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas