An average of 20 tropical cyclones or typhoons enter the Philippines each year according to data from PAGASA. Nearly 70 percent of these develop during the peak of typhoon season in the country from July to October, and they have the capability to destroy lives and properties.
While the occurrence of natural calamities is beyond our control, we can always equip ourselves with knowledge about disaster preparedness to minimize the possible physical damage and financial loss should disaster strike. Here are some useful tips to keep in mind.
An emergency waterproof Go Bag is a portable kit that you can grab if you need to suddenly evacuate your home. It should contain survival items to last at least 72 hours, such as food, water, first aid kit with medicines, toiletries, emergency tools, important documents like bank and property titles, and cash. Also, make sure your devices and power banks are charged in case of power outages, or invest in a battery-operated radio. Check out the full checklist here.
Even before typhoon season arrives, conduct check ups and make reinforcements in your home as needed, particularly the roof, ceiling, windows, and doors. Clear out gutters and drains as well to prevent water from pooling and flooding. All these can help prevent and/or reduce the amount of damage that your house may incur from strong winds and rains. Preparation when time and resources are stable can ensure the safety and integrity of your home during uncertain weather events.
When disaster hits, stay updated with the latest news to plan what steps to take next. Do not ignore emergency alerts and always stay vigilant of your surroundings.
Print out vital information like evacuation areas/zones nearest to you and hotlines for medical assistance and rescue to have handy when electricity is out. You can also research and note basic first aid skills to keep in your Go Bag.
Being prepared for natural calamities like typhoons does not happen overnight. It is always best to start today so whenever that time comes, you and your family are ready. Build an emergency fund to cover unforeseen and urgent expenses arising from floods, fires, and utility shortages. Ideally, your emergency fund should cover at least three months of expenses, but ultimately depends on your household composition, income, and debt.
The key to saving better is starting small so you don’t get overwhelmed and lose motivation. Set your first goal to one month worth of savings then from there, you can work towards the 3-month mark. This also applies to the amount you allot to your emergency fund every month or every paycheck.
However, in dire situations where your emergency fund cannot cover all your expenses, Tala can provide you with convenient and flexible online credit to help address additional costs and manage day-to-day financial needs. You can also use it to fund a side hustle or business that can help you save up more for your emergency fund.
As the world’s first fintech company for the Global Majority, Tala aims to aid customers in staying ready in times of emergency and building financial security in the long run.
For Raymond Villanueva, Tala was the helping hand that he needed during the time he was facing a financial crisis due to his house burning down. With no one else to run to, he applied for a loan on the app.
“Noong pinahiram ako ng Tala, naiyak ako kasi sa halagang P2,000 talagang natulungan ng malaki. And then binayad ko yun sa problema ko. Tapos ang problema. May sobra pa kaya tinreat ko yung anak ko ng pizza,” he said.
(“When Tala lent me money, I was moved to tears because it really helped me bigtime. I used it to pay my bills. My problem is solved. With the remaining amount, I bought pizza to treat myself and my son,” he said.)
Raymond was also able to depend on Tala for the urgent repair of his motorcycle, which as a TNVS rider, is his main source of income.
The worst emergency that Tala was able to help pay off was when my motorcycle tire blew up. At that time, I didn’t have any cash because I just paid my dues so I went to the Tala app. They let me borrow P3,500,” he added. “If you’re in need of a certain amount of money, you don’t need to look far. Count on Tala.”
