PinoyWatchDog Joel Bander Law Charitable groups mobilize
1. Charitable Groups Mobilize, Appeal for Donations for “Pablo” Typhoon
Victims
By Dionesio C. Grava, Deputy Managing Editor
Philippine
Ambassador to Washington, D.C. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said that individuals and
organizations in the US who would like to assist in the relief assistance can send their
cash donations to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(www.ndrrmc.gov.ph); the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(www.dswd.gov.ph); and the Philippine National Red Cross (www.redcross.org.ph).
Her name was Aimee, a 7-year-old daughter of an overseas Filipino worker who had endured
some 24 hours half-submerged in muddy water but died soon after being rescued. She had
become the poster girl of the pain and devastation brought by Pablo, the worst typhoon that hit
the Philippines this year.
In a country where early Christmas cheers would have been the norm at this time of year,
tragedy struck with such a devastating swath it left in its wake so much suffering and damage.
The grim reaper has a bountiful harvest with more than 500 bodies recovered so far.
Blown in the wind; deaths in flash floods. That’s how one newspaper characterized the Category
5 storm that moved swiftly in its predicted path, sending roofs flying off houses, hectares of
coconut trees tumbling, rivers bursting their banks, canceling flights and ferry services, church
bells ringing and sirens wailing especially in some parts of Mindanao in the early hours of
December 4.
The predicted path included Bohol, Biliran, Camotes Island, Southern Leyte, Leyte,
Eastern Samar, and Western Samar in the Visayas. Provinces in Mindanao that were placed
under the storm signal warning were Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte including Surigao
Island, Dinagat Is., Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte inc.
Samal Is., Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Camiguin.
2. The death and destruction
In the aftermath of the storm’s landfall folks in the remote mining and farming town of Bataan,
Compostela Valley, were shocked to find that the terrain had drastically changed.
A report said that what used to be a field of coconut trees and wooden houses had turned into a
gushing river as wide as the Edsa highway belt of Metro Manila flanked by rocks and boulders
that had tumbled down the mountain.
The estimated cost of damage to property, agriculture and infrastructure may soar to P5 billion
or more. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported
that more than 5.1 million people (or 1,033,364 families) have been affected adversely in 1,862
barangays (villages) in 26 provinces throughout regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and CARAGA. At
least 211,000 people taking refuge at crowded government-run shelters, another report said.
Rescue officials said Mindanao’s east coast accounted for all but 40 of the 546 known deaths
from Typhoon Pablo (Bopha). Other fatalities were reported in Palawan – 2, Capiz – 1, Central
Visayas –7, Eastern Visayas – 2, Zamboanga City – 1, Northern Mindanao – 11, and Caraga
Region – 11. Of the dead less than a hundred have so far been identified and more are missing.
Earlier it was reported that at the height of the storm 1,710 passengers, 227 rolling cargos, 79
vessels, and 15 motor bancas were stranded in various ports in the country.
Who to blame for the large number of casualties?
On Friday, December 7, President Noynoy Aquino III inspected the ravaged areas in Mindanao
accompanied by Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Social Welfare
and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Environment
Secretary Ramon Paje, and Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon
Carandang. They first visited New Bataan and distributed relief packs and P10,000 to each
family taking shelter in an evacuation center.
“Your government will not stop until we ensure your lives improve and prevent this kind of
tragedy,” he was quoted in Pilipino promising the victims of the tragedy that the government
would hasten efforts to help them. He also expressed regret that so many casualties occur
every time there is a disaster. Why did the tragedy happen and how to prevent it from
happening again, he asked.
Why, indeed, were there so many casualties when there were early warnings from the
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration? According to an
AP report, “The deaths came despite efforts by President Benigno Aquino III’s government to
force residents out of high-risk communities as the typhoon approached. Vice President Jejomar
Binay directed local executives, police and military officials not to allow those displaced to return
to their homes in areas classified as danger zones. However, it wasn’t clear how quickly and
where substitute homes would be built.”
Outpouring of love and aid
3. Pope Benedict XVI, in a message relayed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone through the Papal nuncio in the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, Thursday
expressed his solidarity with the Filipino victims of the tragedy.
United Kingdom Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire extended on behalf of the British
government his deep sympathies to the families of the casualties and to those in evacuation
shelters in many parts of Mindanao.
Meanwhile, it was reported on December 8 that hungry and homeless typhoon survivors in the
towns of Maparat and Cateel looted shops and warehouses in search of food. Four days after
the calamity struck, officials still struggled to bring in food and relief convoys through roads that
had been blocked or swept away by floods and avalanches of rock, logs and mud. Officials said
damage to roads and bridges by floods and landslides trapped 150,000 people for three days in
Cateel and the nearby towns of Baganga and Boston, where they said 97 percent of buildings
were flattened or unroofed.
About 4,000 residents in the destroyed farming village of Maparat were left to eating fallen
coconut fruits, said an AFP report. It said the survivors were sleeping 80 to a room on the bare
concrete floor of the local elementary school, sharing the toilet’s two stalls and are doing their
washing and bathing at a nearby spring, which is also their only source of water. In dire
situations like these it is apparent that people affected need more than messages of solidarity or
sympathies.
In a press release the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., expressed its appreciation to
the United States for its prompt response in support of disaster relief efforts in typhoon-ravaged
areas in Mindanao. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. announced that
Washington would be releasing $100,000 to the Catholic Relief Services to help victims of
Typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha).
Reports also said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will be sending
assessment teams to typhoon-affected areas to determine where the assistance is most
needed. Ambassador Cuisia said that Washington has provided $11.7 million in humanitarian
assistance and over $4.1 million in disaster risk reduction activities to Manila since 2007.
Ambassador Cuisia said that individuals and organizations in the US who would
like to assist in the relief efforts can send their cash donations to the NDRRMC
(www.ndrrmc.gov.ph); the Department of Social Welfare and Development (www.dswd.gov.ph);
and the Philippine National Red Cross (www.redcross.org.ph).
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is reportedly
targeting 3.7 million euros to help the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) support families displaced
by the typhoon. The money will be used to provide immediate food and non- food relief items to
the victims and finance their recovery through providing water and sanitation systems, cash
grants to help restore livelihoods, and materials to rebuild homes.
4. The Inquirer reported that cash and relief goods for the victims had poured in from foreign
donors. Canada announced that it was giving P10 million (Cad$ 250,000) through the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent societies to address the emergency needs of the people affected by
the storm.
In addition, a United Nations disaster and assessment team, which includes a Canadian
delegate whose deployment is funded through an ongoing CIDA project, has been deployed to
provide direct support with the rapid needs assessments.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said that his government has offered
P210 million (A$5 million) in assistance to the Philippines for the conduct of relief operations.
ABS CBN Foundation International announced that it is currently accepting donations to assist
in rescue operations and providing aid to over 86,000 families that are now in evacuation
centers. Contributions can be made to “ABS CBN Foundation International (Typhoon Pablo)”
online at www.abscbnfoundation.org or via checks to 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA
94065.
Yolanda O. Stern of One World Institute is seeking donations for a flood relief mission. She said
OWI “does not use 1 penny for administrative or delivery fees. So give where your contributions
land where you want it to. Donate at: www.theoneworldinstitute.org.”
Boxer-politician Manny Pacquiao, who was scheduled to fight against Mexican Juan Manuel
Marquez Saturday, has pledged support for the victims of the typhoon.
In Los Angeles, Maria Amor Torres of the Exoti Group of Companies has informed
PinoyWatchdog.com that the 3rd Annual Exotifit Christmas party will raise funds to be donated
to our countrymen who are in pain and desperation as a result of the worst typhoon that hit this
year. She posted this in her Facebook page.
Willo Lim, president of the Sto. Nino de Cebu Association of Southern California, also informed
that a donation box for the victims in Cateel, Davao, will be provided during the organization’s
Annual Christmas Dinner Dance on December 8, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Commerce
Casino, City of Commerce.
Songstress-entertainer Malou Toler sent in this email: “Yes, we are scheduling it for Dec. 27, I’m
gathering artists and Evelyn is working on the venue.” Ms. Toler, a familiar sight in fundraising
causes, is contacting artist friends to join in the humanitarian undertaking.
Civic and church leader Pex Aves also volunteered to make representation with Councilmember
Elito Santarina of the City of Carson to initiate a fundraising towards this end.
‘Pablo’ updates
5. Amid a shortage of coffins in the calamity area, the Pampanga provincial government under the
leadership of Governor Lilia G. Pineda had asked the Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) to help
in the preparation of at least 500 coffins for delivery to the typhoon-stricken areas in Mindanao
A December 7 press release from the Dept. of Labor and Employment says that Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz ordered the release of an initial P5.5-million funding for emergency
employment and livelihood of workers who were displaced by typhoon Pablo in Caraga Region
and Compostela Valley, particularly in the town of New Bataan.
In a briefing with the president held at the Davao International Airport, NDRRMC Executive
Director Benito Ramos said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has already sent
potable water to New Bataan, Compostela Valley. Albay is also giving water to the typhoon
victims. The Dept. of Social Welfare and Development will coordinate where to locate the water
supplies for easy access of the people, Secretary Dinky Soliman said.
Dept. of Health Secretary Enrique Ona informed that they have already distributed chlorine
tablets where there is no safe drinking water yet as well as medicines to affected areas. Ona
admitted there are some problems in distributing medicines because many devastated areas
are still inaccessible. The Dept. of Trade and Industry is also doing price monitoring in
coordination with the Philippine National Police to prevent traders from jacking up their prices.
The government is also spearheading a “Diskuwento Caravan” to provide the people with
affordable basic necessities.