ADRA and ACS distributed family food packs to 1,620 families that whose homes were totally destroyed by Tropical Storm Agaton in Capiz, Iloilo, and Leyte last April 18-22, 2022. 

A low-pressure area entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on April 4, 2022 and developed into Tropical Depression (TD) “Agaton” on April 9, and made landfall on Basey, Samar as a Tropical Storm (TS) two days later on April 11. TS Agaton had maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It brought heavy and intense rains over the central Philippines which caused massive flooding and landslides in Regions Regions VI, VIII, XII, Caraga, and BARMM. 

TS “Agaton” affected 2.2 million persons and caused massive flooding and landslides in eastern and western Visayas killing 212 and leaving 132 missing. As of April 24, 2022, NDRRMC reported that in western Visayas, the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo were the hardest hit by the widespread flood. Capiz reported 544,426 persons from 146,139 families from 17 municipalities were affected; while Iloilo reported 687,029 persons from 180,645 families from 44 municipalities were affected by TS “Agaton”. These 2 provinces combined, make the 54.27% of the total affected population.

In eastern Visayas, the highest affected population is the province of Leyte with 369,727 persons from 95,495 families from 29 municipalities. Eastern Visayas also reported the majority of the casualties, with 186 of 212 (87.74%) reported dead and 130 of 132 (98.48%) still missing.

ADRA coordinated with the Adventist Community Services (ACS) directors of the East Visayan Conference (EVC) and West Visayan Conference (WVC) to conduct rapid needs assessments in Capiz, Iloilo, and Leyte, after which the ERT decided to activate a scaled-up National Emergency Management Plan  (NEMP) with the request of food packs for the affected families.

ADRA and ACS from EVC in Tacloban City, Leyte, and WVC in Iloilo City, Iloilo immediately began the procurement of the food packs while others traveled to the affected areas to validate the households that would be receiving the relief assistance. 

We praise God that from April 18-22, 2022  were able to distribute 820 family food packs in the municipality of Abuyog and City of Baybay in Leyte which were the main locations of the landslides. Also at the same time, we were able to distribute 800 family food packs to the municipalities of Dumarao, Mambusao, and Pilar in the province of Capiz, and in the municipality of Pototan in Iloilo.