In recent months, communities across the Philippines have been hit by one crisis after another—from the destructive earthquake in Cebu to the powerful storms that followed, including Typhoon Kalmaegi that struck earthquake-impacted communities and Typhoon Uwan that devastated Aurora Province. Since September, World Central Kitchen has launched three emergency food responses, one for each of these crises, standing alongside families as they navigate overlapping disasters and long paths to recovery.

Since early November, WCK has been supporting families in Cebu impacted by Typhoon Kalmaegi, many of whom were still reeling from the September earthquake when the storm hit. We have since served more than 350,000 meals across the affected areas. We have scaled up our effort to distribute more than 37,000 daily meals as needs remain acute.

While communities across Cebu are progressing in their cleanup and recovery, not all areas are healing at the same pace. Some neighborhoods were completely washed out—leaving families without a physical place to return to.  As such, our teams are constantly adapting to ensure we provide the support families need when they need it.

As our Kalmaegi response scaled up, Typhoon Uwan slammed into the northern provinces of the Philippines on November 14. The storm made landfall along the Aurora region coastline, tearing  through coastal municipalities and causing widespread damage to homes and essential infrastructure.

WCK teams quickly reached the hardest-hit areas across Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Dinayawan, and Baler. Many homes—built from wood and corrugated metal sheets—were destroyed by the storm. Although residents evacuated ahead of Uwan, they returned to find their communities severely impacted, with electricity and water systems still down in many places.

In Aurora Province, WCK is serving meals and water to families in need through fully locally run operations. In Sitio Dilaguidi, one of the hardest-hit communities, our teams are working closely with local leaders and restaurant partners to prepare comforting dishes like adobo with rice and vegetables for families who lost their homes. With the help of local leaders, we’re mapping the most affected zones, listening to residents, and ensuring we deliver the right support at the right time.

“In the Philippines, we’re witnessing what WCK truly stands for—a platform where communities rise to feed their own,” said Juan Camilo, WCK Response Director. “In Cebu, just weeks after the earthquake, and in Aurora. Filipinos are leading a fully local response, proving that the strongest answers to disaster come from within.”

Across all responses, our approach remains the same: listen first—to families, to cooks, to community leaders. By working hand in hand with local partners, WCK is ensuring that nourishing meals reach people who need them most, whether in Aurora Province or in communities still recovering in Cebu.