Super typhoon “Pepito” made landfall in Panganiban, Catanduanes on 16 November. But before it hit land and unleashed its destructive power, hundreds of fishing boats in coastal communities were already moved out of harm’s way.

“We gave them additional cash before the storm landfall, and they used it in evacuating, purchasing materials to strengthen their homes, or even as additional food materials,” Dulce Carandang, the assistant representative of Food and Agriculture Organization-Philippines (FAOP), said at a press briefing on the United Nations’ (UN) support to the country when a series of typhoons hit it.

“Five fisherfolk associations utilized the resources they received to save more than 280 fishing boats. They took off the katig and evacuated the boats to a safe place that was predefined,” Carandang added.

Such anticipatory action (AA), according to the FAOP official, is done by giving the probable storm victims the supplies they need to effectively evacuate.

AA also was taken in Isabela ahead of typhoon “Nika,” and in Catanduanes and Northern Samar for “Pepito.”

Farmers and fisherfolk in Gigmoto, Pandan, Baras, Bato, San Miguel, San Andres and Virac in Catanduanes, as well as in Laoang and Mondragon in Northern Samar, received unconditional cash assistance amounting to P3,300 each. The funds were distributed through their registered bank or e-wallet accounts and remittance centers.

In Isabela, where AA was activated before typhoon “Nika,” 963 farmers and fisherfolks received financial aid, the release of which met the following prerequisites: there’s a storm carrying winds higher than 89 kilometers per hour, high landslide and flood susceptibility, a red alert within 200 kilometers of the critical track, and at least 15 percent of the population will be affected.

Carandang added that through AA, the fishermen were able to venture out right after the storm had passed, and their livelihoods only received minimal interruption.

In her experience, some farmers in Northern Luzon borrowed money after one typhoon passed to plant their crops, but due to the consecutive typhoons, they incurred mounting debt as their plantations got damaged.

“FAO is looking into the rest of our sister UN agencies here, raising resources because there is a dire need for time-sensitive emergency agricultural livelihood interventions,” according to Carandang.