Typhoon in the Philippines 2019

Typhoon Phanfone Causes Widespread Damage in the Philippines, Affecting Children From Six Hope Centers

Jan 15, 2020

OneChild has released emergency aid to the Philippines for immediate disaster relief and recovery efforts, including rebuilding one Hope Center, a pastor’s home and needed repair or rebuilding of more than 400 houses of sponsored children and their families.

Local staff visited our partners in the hard-hit area of Northern Cebu to personally view the devastation. They are offering food relief by distributing rice, noodles, and canned goods as well as provisions from partner organization Convoy of Hope. Residents in the area are beginning the long work of cleaning and repairing their damaged homes; a few families have been able to secure loans for their home construction projects.

As our staff in the Philippines further assess the impact on the area, we will continue to evaluate our disaster relief efforts and find the best ways to help with long-term recovery and community development.


Dec 25, 2019

Typhoon Phanfone made landfall in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines on Christmas Day, 2019. Gusts of up to 118 mph struck, destroying homes and power lines and causing extensive, severe flooding.

More than 58,000 people had been evacuated in advance, but about 15,000 were stranded at ports when ferry services were suspended. In addition, thousands of people were stranded as they tried to travel home for Christmas.

Electricity was down for several days in Daang Bantayan and Malapascua; power in Aklan will be down for a month. Even in areas where there is electricity, there is limited battery power for communicating.

Children and families from these six Hope Centers in Cebu and Aklan, who already lived in poverty, were affected:  PH-003, PH-004, PH-006, PH-007, PH-011, and PH-014.

The homes of 419 registered children were partially damaged or completely destroyed. One Hope Center (PH-014 Children’s Home Laguna in Aklan) was destroyed and will need to be rebuilt, and one local pastor’s home was also destroyed. Construction projects will be launched as soon as possible.

Manette Cosico, OneChild’s country director in the Philippines, says, “Please pray for the people of Cebu and Aklan. About 80% of the livelihood of people in Malapascua and Daang Bantayan were affected.  Most of the livelihood in that place comes from fishing and diving.  Due to heavy rains, fishing nets and their boats for fishing were destroyed, including their houses.”

Urgent Need for Food and Water

Children and their families need food relief and safe water immediately. Hope Center staff is distributing food and safe water to affected registered children and their families. Staff is also providing personal hygiene kits and other items while they assess the situation for recovery and rebuilding efforts.

More disaster relief efforts will be needed in the future to help keep children healthy and to rebuild and repair homes.

Thank you for caring about children in poverty and bringing hope to hard places. Please check back here for updates on the situation and continue praying for our children and families and for the Hope Center staff helping them.

Help children affected by Typhoon Phanfone!

Learn more about our work in the Philippines.

Read about how OneChild Partner Happy Horizons rescues abused girls and gives them a loving place to heal.

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