by Cristina B. Deyro, MD
Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) brought catastrophic winds, torrential rainfall, storm surges, and widespread flooding across large portions of the Philippines—particularly Northern Luzon and the Bicol Region—from 8 to 10 November 2025.
Just days before Uwan’s landfall, Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) had already struck central and southern areas of the country, submerging parts of Cebu, Negros Occidental, and portions of Panay Island. These communities were still recovering from the effects of Typhoons Nando (Ragasa) and Opong (Bualoi) in late September, as well as a series of powerful earthquakes in Bogo City in Cebu and Davao Oriental in Mindanao.
Raging floodwaters in La Castellana, Negros Occidental
Located within both the typhoon belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons each year and frequent seismic activity. Climate change continues to intensify these events, making them more destructive and unpredictable. Over the years, the country has faced increasingly severe storms and recurring floods, leading to loss of life, extensive property damage, and large-scale displacement. Today, an estimated 74% of Filipinos remain vulnerable to natural hazards such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides.
When disasters strike in rapid succession, food security is one of the first areas to suffer. Disruptions in food systems weaken both national supply chains and household food access. Many of the families Bountiful serves rely on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods, making them especially vulnerable when farms, fisheries, roads, bridges, and storage facilities are damaged. Even when food is available, compromised infrastructure often prevents its transport and distribution.
For families already living with limited financial resources, the loss of income, property, and livelihoods further restricts their ability to afford nutritious foods. Many resort to negative coping strategies—reducing meal size, skipping meals, or relying heavily on disaster-relief food packs that typically contain rice, canned goods, and instant noodles. While these rations are vital for survival, they do not meet the nutritional needs of young children. This is where the nutrient-dense supplements Bountiful provides—fortified infant cereal, powdered milk, peanut butter, and micronutrient powder—become essential. Because these items are purchased locally by our community coordinators, they can be distributed quickly when emergencies occur.
How Bountiful Responded
Despite being affected by the typhoons and floods themselves, Bountiful coordinators made every effort to check on the families under their care. In Iloilo, Marites, our community coordinator, assisted a mother and her newborn as they evacuated to a church building—only to return home and find her own house flooding as well.
Marites, a community coordinator, wades through floodwater
A mother with her newborn finds refuge in a church building
In evacuation centers, overcrowding, limited access to clean water, and poor sanitation increase the risk of infectious diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory tract infections. Research by Talavera (2018) shows that increased rainfall is associated with higher rates of illness among children, especially those with existing nutritional deficiencies.
Bountiful recipients gather in an evacuation center
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Disasters also disrupt household routines and community structures, diverting time and resources away from proper childcare and feeding. Psychological stress caused by physical injuries, loss of homes, and uncertainty about the future can further weaken a caregiver’s ability to provide consistent and adequate care. One Philippine study found that children exposed to multiple disasters are more likely to experience stunting and food insecurity.
Grecil, San Joaquin coordinator, offers psychosocial support to evacuees
The frequency of natural calamities in the Philippines leaves many families with little time to recover before the next event strikes. This creates a cycle of poverty, displacement, food insecurity, and chronic undernutrition—one that affects infants and young children most severely.
In emergency situations, malnutrition is rarely caused by a single factor. Instead, it arises from a combination of insufficient food, loss of shelter and clothing, destruction of crops and livestock, poor sanitation, disrupted caregiving practices, and the heightened vulnerability of children. These overlapping challenges increase the risk of both acute and chronic undernutrition.
A family in Bacolod brings their food and water onto their roof to stay dry
While the Philippine government continues to strengthen nutrition programs and disaster-response systems, the burden of malnutrition remains heavy—especially for the youngest and most vulnerable. The resilience of the Filipino people is extraordinary, but resilience alone cannot replace the essential nourishment children need during the most critical years of growth.
Grecil (in blue cap) assists in the distribution of relief goods from the government.
At Bountiful Children’s Foundation, our community coordinators work tirelessly to deliver locally sourced, nutrient-dense supplements to the children and mothers enrolled in our programs. With your support, we can reach even more families and provide life-sustaining nutrition to communities most affected by recent natural disasters. Your support ensures that even in evacuation centers, infants and young children continue to receive nutrient-dense supplements, and our coordinators can rapidly identify those at risk.”
Together, we can help ensure that no child’s health or future becomes another casualty of calamity.
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