BALASAN, Iloilo- With a house located at the outskirt of Balasan, Iloilo, their community was one of those wrecked by typhoon Yolanda. In Sitio Camote, only one house appeared to have stood the storm and the rest were damaged. Worst, their source of livelihood, which is oyster or talaba culture, was crippled.
Fifty-five-year-old Erlina Ramirez, of Brgy. Lawis, now gives a smile as she talks of how she and her family has recovered from the typhoon. It was not a fast recovery but she said they have picked up the pieces of their lives and tried to move on.
Erlina and her husband Henry, 56, have six children namely Ma. Elena, 32; Ana Marie, 28; Herly, 24; Analie, 23; Ma. Hazel, 18; and Erwin, 12. The two older women among the siblings have their own families now while the rest are staying with them.
“Our house was totally damaged. Everything from the roof to the walls was literally destroyed. My husband had to pick up materials which could be used and built a makeshift house. That is where we are staying now. What we are thankful is that we are all safe,” she said.
She said four people died when the calamity happened as the storm surge hit their place.
Since the talaba culture business was paralyzed, it took more than a month for them to rely on relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Local Government Unit and other Humanitarian organizations such as Save the Children and Red Cross.
“Muna gid ang nagsuporta sa amon sadto kay wala gid kami kaunon (Their help sustained us that time since we had nothing to eat),” she said.
After the period, she and her neighbors helped each other to make do of available resources to get back on the talaba business.
About two months ago, Erlina was one of the 80 members of the Barangay Lawis Self –Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Association (SKA) organized by DSWD Field Office VI who received P3,025 each as a seed capital to rebuild their source of living again.
“When I received the capital, I bought binders, kutiba (talaba shells), pusog (bamboo). I used these to for my oyster culture business. I am very thankful to the government for helping me,” she said.
Erlina said she now earns a maximum of P600 per day particularly when there are orders from Balasan town and its neighboring municipalities of Sara, Lemery and Estancia. The lowest she earns is P300 per day.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HARVEST SEASON
Felomino Ramirez, president of the Lawis SKA, said that they still cannot feel the impact of the seed capital released to them now but he is looking forward to the harvest season, along with his members.
“That will be around January. In fact, the oyster’s seed are now big. After that, we will continue earning everyday through talaba,” he said.

GETS HELP FROM PANTAWID PAMILYA TOO
Ramirez said that all the 80 recipients of seed capital are beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
“We are implementing convergence strategy to ensure that we get maximum results in all our programs and projects. If we pour resources to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, we could help their children get a better chance in life by finishing school and being healthy. With that, they have higher chances of getting a good job and stopping the intergenerational cycle of poverty,” said DSWD regional director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre.
Records show that the municipality received a total of P369,050 in livelihood assistance for Yolanda survivors in August this year./dswd6/May Rago-Castillo