Aid from Japan, US, China for Ondoy Calamities

Aid from Japan, US, China for Ondoy Calamities

Philippine Daily Inquirer

By Cynthia Balana, Jocelyn Uy

First Posted 01:51:00 09/29/2009

Japan announced Monday it would provide emergency relief goods worth about 20 million yen ($220,000) to the victims in response to the Philippine governments appeal for help from other countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada extended his governments letter of sympathy to Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and expressed sadness over the loss of many lives and damage to property in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

Okada said Japan would spare no effort in providing necessary assistance and cooperation for rehabilitation of affected people and areas.

The US Embassy in Manila said Ambassador Kristie Kenney authorized an additional $50,000 in immediate disaster relief assistance, bringing the total of US relief assistance to $100,000.

The US Embassy said the assistance would be delivered to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

Heartbreaking

In addition, US Navy personnel are assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in search and rescue efforts in Cainta, Rizal and Pasig City, among the most flooded areas.

Damage caused by this storm is heartbreaking, Kenney told Sen. Richard Gordon, PNRC chair, on Sept. 26.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila said it was donating $10,000 in disaster relief to the PNRC. Chinese Ambassador to Manila Liu Jianchao had called Gordon to inform him of the assistance.

The Chinese government and people were saddened by loss of lives and have deep sympathy with the Philippine government and people, Liu said in a statement.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and destruction to property caused by the storm that swept through the central Philippines over the weekend.

WHO relied fund

The UNs World Health Organization (WHO) announced a $42,000 relief fund.

The WHO said those crammed into evacuation centers were at risk of water-and air-borne diseases. There is also a greater risk of acute respiratory infection and injuries, (and) wound infection from doing repairs after the floods, it said.

World Vision, a humanitarian group, had begun distributing relief packs by helicopter and was assisting the Philippine Coast Guard. It said it planned to raise about $2 million and was appealing for more funds from its donors.

Help from Filipinos abroad

The Philippine consulates in Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Dubai have been contacted by Filipino communities, which have expressed willingness to give donations and mobilize community members.

In Winnipeg, Canada, an evangelical church made a special collection during the Sunday service for the victims of Ondoy.

Each calamity, each typhoon hurts us. It pains my heart to see our co-Filipinos going through [these] difficult times. Its going from bad to worse there, Filipino Roslyn Pamplona, a church minister, was quoted saying by CBC News.

In Westport, Connecticut, the US chapter of the International Save the Children movement said its staff in Manila was mobilizing a rapid relief effort to assist children and families who have lost their homes.

Donation from senators

Local government units in the provinces offered assistance to areas affected by Ondoy.

Wasting no time, the Senate swiftly approved Monday afternoon a resolution introduced by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago allocating P1 million each from senators pork barrel to help areas devastated by Ondoy.

The money will fund relief operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas in Metro Manila and other affected regions, according to Santiago.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile announced that the Senate would donate a total of P1.5 million to the victims of the storm through the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., GMA Kapuso Foundation and the PNRC.

Private sector aid

Philippine companies have also offered help.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it would airlift all relief donations from the provinces to Manila.

In a statement, PAL said that any bulk cargo box containing donations addressed to reputable, nonprofit, charitable organizations in Manila would be airlifted for free.

Individual donations for private or personal families will not be accommodated.

PAL said donations must be in a cargo box or container inscribed with care of the PAL Foundation. Complete information of the consignee organization must be supplied with the cargo box or container.

Station heads of the airline will verify and limit the contents of the donation boxes to items of value and use, and exclude donations like expired food and medicines, water, rice (due to weight considerations) and unusable stuff.

Globe Telecom announced that it would accept relief goods at its stores during mall hours.

Donations, except cash, would be taken in at Globe stores in Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall, Robinsons Malate, SM Southmall, Mall of Asia, SM Bicutan, SM Fairview, Trinoma, SM North, Greenbelt 4, Park Square and SM Makati.

Banco De Oro Chairperson Tessie Sy - Coson donated P10 million pesos for Ondoy Relief Funds to ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation

Metrobank Group chair George S. K. Ty announced that Metrobank, through the Metrobank Foundation, would donate P10 million for relief and rehabilitation.

With reports from Jerome Aning, Michael Lim Ubac and Riza T. Olchondra and Agence France-Presse

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