Article Written By: Jose Abraham C. Ongkiko & David Josh C. Concepcion
From December 1 to 3, the UP Resilience Institute – Institution Building Division (UPRI-IB), in collaboration with SOS Attitude of France, Ugnayan ng Pahinungod of UP, and the Rotary Club of Cebu, distributed 500 units of Schneider Mobiya Lite Solar Lamps to families affected by Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi). The three-day operation was designed to address immediate energy needs in communities that were still experiencing a prolonged loss of electricity.
Two major distribution activities were carried out during this deployment. The first was conducted in coordination with Ugnayan ng Pahinungod of UP and UP Cebu, prioritizing affected faculty, staff, and students. The second was implemented through the Rotary Club network, with coordination led by District Governor Jong Fernandez and District Secretary Mary Christine Chua. Also present were the Club Presidents of RC Mandaue, RC Banilad Metro, and RC Naga Cebu of District 3860.
UPRI-IB was led by Chief Science Researcher Specialist Jose Abraham C. Ongkiko, together with Junior Project Assistant David Josh C. Concepcion. The first activity began on the morning of December 1 in UP Cebu, where the Rotary Club Members helped with the logistical arrangements of the Solar Lamps, as well as putting SOS Attitude stickers on every unit. Afterwards, the initial distribution in UP Cebu began. In total, there were 48 beneficiaries from the UP Cebu Faculty, Reps, Admin, and Students.
The team then proceeded to Barangay Lawaan 3, Talisay City, where hundreds of households continue to undergo relocation due to the destructive surge of the Mananga River, which washed out or buried large portions of the barangay during Typhoon Tino.
During the distribution, UPRI-IB gathered brief accounts from the affected residents, each one revealing the weight of Typhoon Tino’s impact on their daily lives. In Talisay, Sophia Baliar, a 3rd-year UP Cebu student, described how the floodwaters rose without warning in the early hours of November 4. She recounted climbing to their rooftop as the water consumed the lower floors of their home. By daylight, much of their house and their vehicles lay buried in thick mud.
In Balamban, Edgardo Roma shared a similar ordeal. A powerful surge of water swept into his property, swallowing it under layers of mud and leaving heavy damage throughout the household. His account reflected not only the physical destruction left behind but also the emotional toll it carried.
Throughout the three-day operation, UPRI-IB, SOS France volunteers, and Rotary Club members ensured an organized and efficient distribution process. Solar lamps were provided to help families maintain lighting and device charging capacity while waiting for electricity restoration, particularly in heavily affected and still-recovering areas.
By the end of the deployment, there were 48 beneficiaries from UP Cebu and 250 families in Barangay Lawaan, Talisay City. The remaining 202 units are tentatively scheduled for distribution in Bogo City in January 2026