School kits bring hope to 1,647 Pangasinan children after Super Typhoon Uwan 

San Fabian, Pangasinan — Three months after Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung‑wong) devastated Pangasinan, 1,647 children in San Fabian received learner’s kits from World Vision, providing them with essential tools to continue their education. 

Pangasinan was among the hardest‑hit provinces, with schools damaged and classrooms filled with sand, debris, and trash from storm surges. According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Uwan caused ₱411 million in damage to agriculture and infrastructure, affecting more than 345,000 families or 1.1 million individuals. 

The kits, distributed to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in two local schools, contained notebooks, pad papers, crayons, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, ballpens, and umbrellas—everything needed for children to resume learning effectively. 

Eight‑year‑old Gaea, a Grade 3 student, shared: “It’s important to have new school supplies so we can write and study properly.” Fifteen‑year‑old Paul, a Grade 10 student, added: “Having a complete set helps organize our subjects and prepares us for class tasks.” 

Assistant school principal Dexter Fabian emphasized the community’s determination: “Despite class suspensions and damages, we worked together to ensure children could continue learning. These kits help bridge the learning gap caused by the disaster.” 

World Vision Disaster Management Officer Don Jorge Marcos noted that the school serves as a catchment for nine villages, including four coastal communities, underscoring the importance of reaching children in vulnerable areas. 

“This school was once covered in sand, trash and other debris caused by the storm surge from Typhoon Uwan,” said Marcos.  

Beyond Pangasinan, World Vision continues to respond to emergencies across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In Luzon, assistance includes learner’s kits, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies for families affected by Typhoon Uwan. In Visayas and Mindanao, ongoing responses support families impacted by recent earthquakes, providing emergency relief items, psychosocial support, and recovery assistance.