By Lottie Salarda
TACLOBAN CITY — Coconut farmer Hernan Arana from Burauen, Leyte started acting different last December, according to his daughter, talking less and less to the family, and when he did, it was always about the loss of their trees in 2013 from the typhoon that has come to be recorded as the strongest in the world’s history.
The daughter, who asked not to be named, said her 49-year-old father also suffered from insomnia and loss of appetite.
“Gusto niya laging mag-isa. Parang nawalan na siya ng pag-asa na wala na siyang income. Wala na kasing niyog ngayon (He just wants to be left alone. It was as if he has lost all hope because of the loss of income. There are no coconuts now),” she said in an interview in the city.
Coconut farming, she added, had always been his livelihood and he has been worrying about alternative means to provide for the family since typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) struck, especially after the relief operations ended.
Last January, the family, after pooling enough money for transportation and some extra for possible medical costs, decided to bring Mr. Arana to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center for a mental check-up.
Mr. Arana joins the 3,112 cases of mental illness recorded by the Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Regional Office (DoH-8) in 2015.
The province of Leyte had the highest number with 748 cases; Biliran has 171; Northern Samar, 255; Eastern Samar, 593; Western Samar, 484; and Southern Leyte, 113.
DoH-8 information officer Ma. Elena Joy Villarosa said they anticipated the problem of psychological issues arising from the November 2013 typhoon and it is among the top 10 priorities of the regional office.
Antipsychotic medications have been distributed in the different municipalities to help survivors who are mentally struggling in the disaster’s aftermath.
“We saw the need for attention on the mental aspect after typhoon Haiyan… there are people who are [clinically] depressed,” Ms. Villarosa said, noting the impact of the loss of loved ones, displacement, loss of property and livelihood.
The DoH official admitted that there have not been enough information dissemination activities to let people know that help is available for those suffering from mental illnesses, but they are now encouraging people to seek assistance from the government health centers.
“We encourage the patients not to be ashamed. We need to know how many more need help and medication,” Ms. Villarosa said in Filipino.
She noted that many of the cases involve coconut farmers.
Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority show 13 million coconut trees, which take six to 10 years to start bearing fruit, were destroyed in the typhoon-affected areas.
In Leyte alone, about three-quarters of its coconut trees — or 9,690,991 out of 12,600,416 — were destroyed. The total loss is estimated at more than P10 billion.
A rehabilitation budget of P2.88 billion has been allocated, including P280 million for clearing operations; P1.6 billion for the procurement of fertilizers; P500 million for the replanting program; and P500 million for intercropping as income augmentation.
Mr. Arana’s daughter said they are trying to help their father cope by talking to him and assuring him that they can find solutions to their difficulties.
“Masakit para sa isang anak na makita ko ang tatay ko na nagkaganun (It pains a child like me to see her father suffer that way),” she said.
