By Emma Charlston, Marketing and Communications Coordinator CUFA
Almost six months on from devastating Typhoon Haiyan, that claimed the lives of almost 6,000 Filipino’s; the rebuilding process is well and truly underway.
As reported in February this year, the consolidated fundraising efforts of CUFA, the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and the Irish League of Credit Unions raised more than US$240,000, earmarked for the post-typhoon rehabilitation project.
One of VICTO National’s affiliated credit unions, Metro Ormoc Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (OCCCI), has 42 branches, all damaged by the typhoon, serving 97,000 members with US$8 million in deposits.
Considered one of the country’s most active credit unions, OCCCI has a membership base of predominantly rice and coconut farmers and fisherfolk. Nearly 80 percent of OCCCI’s members were impacted by the typhoon, according to OCCCI CEO Jose Mosquite.World Council Senior Vice President for Technical Services Peter Graves recently spent two days with Renia Salinas, CEO of VICTO National visiting affected credit unions in Tacloban City and Ormoc to see first-hand the impact rebuilding is having.WOOCU, overseeing the relief efforts, determined that Credit Unions associated with VICTO National – cooperative federation and development centre in the region – were most affected, requiring the immediate renovation and rehabilitation of nine of the worse-off branches. Rebuilding was deemed important for disaster recovery and community confidence.
Renovation has meant that branches have remained open to serve the needs of members providing access to loans and savings to assist post-typhoon. The Credit Unions have been able to offer expanded services to attract new customers, which will help off-set losses incurred from delinquency of loan repayments following Haiyan.
Thank you to all those individuals who donated and to those Mutuals and Credit Unions who coordinated appeals through their branches. CUFA looks forward to following the progress of the post-typhoon relief efforts and keeping you up to date.
Solomon Islands Appeal
Following the unprecedented flooding in the Solomon Islands in early April, 21 people are now confirmed dead, two missing and more than 52,000 people affected across Honiara City and greater Guadalcanal. Relief efforts are still coordinating the essential supply of food, water, health and sanitation supplies. The main concern now is for those who remain displaced by the natural disaster, having lost their homes and food gardens, and remain in aid-supported evacuation centres.
A number of credit union and savings clubs operate in these areas and their members have been affected by the devastation. Facilitated by the Oceania Confederation of Credit Union Leagues (OCCUL), CUFA is working in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Credit Union League (SICCUL) to determine how members can best be assisted to rebuild their economic livelihoods and get back on their feet after these floods.
The CUFA Appeal for the Solomon Islands has raised almost $3,000 for the relief efforts in region and will be continuing to collect funds.
If you would like to donate, please head to our appeal page.
