By Shirley T. Kimmayong, HEA Communications Specialist

"In just a matter of minutes, we had nothing left except the clothes on our bodies," said Alma, 37, whose home was crushed in a landslide after days of rain led to landslips and severe flooding in Bicol, Philippines.

When the side of a mountain gave way in Magallanes village, just 250km from Manila, a powerful rush of mud crushed many homes, including Alma's.

"We heard a loud sound like thunder followed by the sound of rolling stones and trees," said Alma, a mother of seven.  

Landslides are becoming increasingly common in areas where intensive logging has taken place. Trees not only provide the soil with essential nutrients but also offer near-by villages protection from landslides and flooding that often occurs during the June to September monsoon season.
 
Alma's family sought shelter in a near-by school.  The next day she returned home to find most of her 4 by 5 Meter house flattened, it's thatched roof lying on the ground and the surviving plywood walls saturated in standing water.  

"I saw mud, fallen trees and stones instead of our house. Our roof was lying on the ground," she said, her eyes burdened with worry.

Her anxiety escalated with the realization that the family's income of P50 (US $1.21) per day would never be enough to quickly rebuild a home.

"I don't know how long before we can build another house. My husband is a fisherman and only earns P50 per day, there are times when he returns without catching anything at all," she said.

Now more than ever, Philippine villages like Magallanes are facing disasters that can be prevented.  

Reducing the risk of disaster
Poverty often drives families to live in areas that are frequently hit by disasters. Many residents in Magallanes know the best way to protect themselves from future landslides and flooding is to move to a safer area but they say they cannot afford to do so.

Disaster preparedness plans can help reduce the risks they face.

"World Vision will be working with communities to come up with disaster preparedness plans, particularly in areas where it is most likely for the mountain to give way," said World Vision Project Coordinator Felixberto Jerus.

"We are initiating conversations about planting trees that are taller and have deeper roots that can really hold the soil," said programme partner Willie Broñola.

"The remaining mountain top trees are too short and the roots too shallow to provide suitable protection," added Mr. Broñola.

The Philippines is susceptible to a variety of natural disasters. "It is important communities know how to protect themselves in the case of floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes," continued Mr. Jerus.