Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines with FREE shipping

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate to the Philippines

 

Update of the situation in SouthEast Asia on 10 October 2009

 

Danish P3 (radio) at 13 o'clock: More than 500 people have died in the Philippines during the past weeks due to typhoons and floodings.

 

From the German TV Channel ZDF, Text TV: 180 dead after typhoon (read this at 11:30 o'clock).

More than 180 have died after floodings in the Philippines. The number of victims of natural disasters in the Philippines is on the rise to 180. According to those in charge of the rescue operations, also many rescuers are amongst those dead. They died when trying to get dead bodies out of the collapsed houses.

 

According to Unicef 1 mio. children are affected by the bad hygienic conditions in the flooded areas. The "Parma" typhoon has ravaged the region for days bringing loads of heavy rain.

 

ONE POSITIVE ITEM OF NEWS: After days of non-stop rain THE SKY IS SLOWLY CLEARING UP. :)

 

Let's hope that the worst is over - but it takes time to overcome these natural disasters as you yourself wrote, Pete / Tonsu.

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

Norway, TV2 Text TV: At least 181 were killed in the Philippines in several landslides due to heavy rain and storm. At least 5 confirmed dead and 32 persons missing after a landslide in the mountainous province.

 

Norway, TV2 Text TV: 160 dead i landslide in the Philippines due to heavy rains since Parma hit the country almost a week ago. 30 villages flooded after the opening of several dams in order to remove superfluous water.

[Tonsu]

No recent updates from Ioshi, hope she's ok...:\

 

This has really dropped off the news radar here in the UK. It's sickening. We get the big headlines the first day a disaster strikes, and then after a few days it's just forgotten by the TV companies...when people are in really desperate trouble RIGHT NOW - homes washed away, nowhere to stay, no electricity, clean water, food, or essential basic hygiene items. This can be the really dangerous time for so many people :cry:

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

In Denmark it was like that too - the media mentioned the natural disaster the first two-three days before focussing on where to hold the next OL (Denmark hosted the event where the name of the city was published). But Saturday the Philippines were mentioned again as the number of victims was on the rise.

[nancyk58]

Californians donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

Posted by engsol1500 earlier Sunday / 11.10.09

 

After typhoon Ondoy, which claimed lives of about 150, I was not expecting that things could get worse. Apparently, the typhoon after Ondoy, Pepeng, was causing more devastation in the northern part of the country.

 

This still have to be confirmed but I heard from a friend yesterday that the major roads to one city in the north, Baguio City, was destroyed, disrupting rescue and relief operations...

 

Death toll from 'Pepeng' rises to 264; dozens more missingGMANews.TV - Sunday, October 11

 

The death toll from tropical depression “Pepeng" rose to 264 Saturday afternoon as rescue workers dug up more bodies of missing people, reports from police and relief agencies said.

 

Of the total, 222 were killed in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), mostly from landslides, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

 

Chief Inspector Tessie Sarmiento, spokesperson of the CAR police, said at least 141 people have so far been confirmed dead in Benguet province, while the figure in Baguio City rose to 50.

 

Twenty-eight bodies were recovered in Mt. Province, and one each in Abra and Ifugao.

 

The figure is expected to rise further as total of 53 people have yet to be found in Baguio, Benguet and Mt. Province, police said.

 

The number of injured people due to floodwaters and landslides totaled 71, with 48 coming from Benguet, 13 from Baguio City, six from Mt. Province, and two from Abra.

 

A report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said 34 more deaths were reported from La Union, five in Pangasinan and one in Ilocos Norte.

Pepeng-related deaths earlier reported include two in Camarines Norte in the Bicol region, and one in Nueva Ecija.

 

On Sunday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is scheduled to visit Baguio and Benguet. On Saturday she was in the Cagayan Valley region to inspect typhoon damage. Storm signals lifted as ‘Pepeng’ moves farther away.

 

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Roads and damage Baguio remained isolated on Saturday as the three major roads that link the upland resort city to lowland provinces— Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road — were closed by landslides.

 

Buad Bridge and Manila North Road Km 211+109 at the boundary of La Union and Pangasinan collapsed. In Pangasinan, motorists going north were advised to take the following detour routes: Camiling Road going to Dagupan, Lingayen, and Binmaley; and Urdaneta and Binalonan going to Manaoag. In Zambales, floodwaters have subsided in the towns of Iba, San Miguel, and Botolan. Vehicles can now pass through the Carael Highway. Preliminary reports of damage caused by Pepeng totaled P5.08 billion, including P1.08-worth of infrastructure, and P3.99-billion worth of agricultural products. Damage to private property amounted to P2.77 billion. Some 20,700 houses were damaged, 1,796 of them destroyed and 18,196 partially damaged, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). Even at nightfall on Saturday, rescuers were still digging up for possible survivors in landslide-hit villages in the Cordilleras. Relief operations, meanwhile, were in full blast in evacuation centers all over Pangasinan and other places where tens of thousands of people have been displaced by floods.

 

Power failure continued to be experienced in some areas in Ilocos Norte due to damaged cable wires and fallen trees.

 

Power interruption was noted in the towns of Santa, Magsingal, San Juan, Cabugao, Sinait, Lidlidda and San Emilio.

 

At least one major road and 51 secondary roads and 11 bridges had been affected due to floods, landslides and mudslides. - GMANews.TV

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/2009101...4-d6cd5cf.html____________________

 

I noticed two positive pieces of news here: "Storm signals lifted as ‘Pepeng’ moves farther away" and "In Zambales, floodwaters have subsided .."

 

Now is the time where help from the outside world is really needed - with all these losses of human lives and damage to houses and infrastructure. A lot of reconstruction is needed.

 

I checked the Text TV from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany without finding anything about the situation in the Philippines or otherwise in Southeast Asia. As Peter (Tonsu) wrote: The press media quickly moves on to focus on other news - and often the news are infotainment = a mixture of information and entertainment.

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

UPDATE OF THE SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES (source = GMANews.TV)

 

The death toll caused by killer typhoon “Pepeng" (Parma) has risen to more than 300 - about 307 - in the various regions of Luzon, most of it in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions, as more bodies were retrieved from landslide-hit areas in Baguio City, the rest of Benguet province and Mountain Province.

 

As of Sunday 5:30 p.m., the Office of Civil Defense - Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR) said they have already accounted for 231 deaths in the region due to at least 39 landslides.

 

Of the 231 fatalities, OCD regional director Olive Luces said 152 were from Benguet, 50 were from Baguio City and 29 were from the Mt. Province.

The figure excludes the casualties from the series of landslides in Oct. 3, which Luces said resulted in the death of 19 people, 12 of them were from Benguet.

 

The rest of the casualty count, based on the latest available report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, include 49 deaths in the Ilocos region, three in Central Luzon, one in Southern Tagalog, and four in the Bicol region.

 

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan said that as of Sunday morning around 175 bodies were recovered from landslide areas in Benguet, the bulk of which were recovered from sitio Little Kibungan in Barangay Puguis in La Trinidad town, while the rest came from the areas in the municipalities of Mankayan, Itogon, Atok, and Tublay.

 

Little Kibungan tragedy

At least 50 bodies were retrieved from Little Kibungan alone, where 100 residents were reported missing after loose soil slipped down the slopes covering 36 houses on the hillsides on Thursday evening

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/174355/deaths-in-luzon-due-to-pepeng-now-307-still-rising

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

UNICEF NEWS seen on website Sunday 11/10-09:

 

UNICEF seeks $3 million for children affected by Indonesian earthquake

 

UN Flash Appeal of nearly $75 million for assistance to victims of Ketsana/Ondoy

 

UNICEF: Without a protective environment, it’s a harsh life for children

 

Nearly 70,000 children return to classes following Indonesia earthquake

 

UNICEF rapid response team on the ground in Samoa

 

Joint press release

UN Flash Appeal of nearly $75 million for assistance to victims of Ketsana/Ondoy

MANILA, 7 October 2009 - The United Nations and the Government of the Philippines presented today in Manila a joint appeal seeking $74,021,809 to meet the urgent needs of one million of those affected by Tropical Storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana). The appeal is for six months.

 

The sudden storm dropped a month’s rainfall on Metro Manila and surrounding areas in around six hours, affecting almost four million people. More than a week after, around 335,000 people still remain in temporary evacuation centers, while many more continue to depend on humanitarian assistance from the government, and the national and international humanitarian community.

 

“The Flash Appeal seeks to generate funds in key sectors including food, shelter, water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency telecommunications and logistics, child protection, coordination and camp management,” said UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman who participated in the announcement. “It also provides for time-critical agricultural and early recovery programs.”

 

The UN has delivered food and non-food items and is committed in supporting the relief and recovery efforts of the government as long as it is needed.

 

“Families have lost their loved ones as well as their homes and livelihoods,” said Veneman. “Children have also been severely traumatized by the effects of the storms and getting them back into their daily routines is critical.”

 

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Ms. Jacqui Badcock, noted that “While normalcy may have returned to many parts of the capital, over a million people in affected areas continue to be in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. A major response from the international donor community is now absolutely essential if the current operation is to be scaled up to meet the needs on the ground.”

 

Notes: A Flash Appeal is a request for funds by UN agencies responding to a sudden humanitarian crisis coordinate their response. It presents a unified set of funding needs to donors. It provides a concise overview of urgent life-saving needs and a plan to address acute needs for up to six months based on the best available information at the time of writing.

 

The partnership between the UN and the Philippines began in 1945 when the Philippines joined 49 other nations in signing the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, USA. This partnership has progressed since then into a number of development initiatives, activities and programmes. Technical, financial and other forms of assistance to the Philippines began in the late 1940s, as the country recovered from the ravages of World War II.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Ms. Marge Francia, Communication Officer, UNICEF,

Tel + 632 901.0173, ++632 917.858.9447,

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr. Danton Remoto, Communication Officer, UNDP ,

Tel + 632 901.0239, ++632 918.979.3665,

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Patrick McCormick, UNICEF NY,

Tel + 1 212 326 7426,

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.unicef.org/media/media_51364.html

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

GMANews.TV updates / the Philippines Sunday 11 October 2009:

 

Rescuers rush to save Cordillera landslide victims

 

» Classes suspended in storm-hit NLuzon towns

 

» DA chief: 16K hectares crops in Cagayan lost to ‘Pepeng’

Some 16,000 hectares of crops in Cagayan province were lost to typhoon “Pepeng" (Parma) after it swept through Northern Luzon last weekend, but Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap insisted that the crop damage will not affect food security.

 

40 landslides in the Cordillera claim over 250 lives

10/11/2009 | 04:20 PM (Update 2 - 9:20 p.m.)

 

BAGUIO CITY - Over 40 landslides have decimated communities across the western half of the rugged Cordillera mountain range, claiming at least 250 lives with many more missing, after relentless rains brought by Typhoon Pepeng, according to the Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR).

 

Provincial governors, however, are claiming even higher numbers, as rescue and recovery teams are finding more bodies in mud and debris.

 

While much of the current media coverage has been on the catastrophes in Puguis, La Trinidad in Benguet and Tadian, Mt. Province, most of the other landslides have escaped public attention, occurring in areas without power and communication, and isolated by sections of roads that have given way.

 

Of the 250 officially recorded fatalities, OCD regional director Olive Luces said 164 were in Benguet, 50 in Baguio City and 29 in Mt. Province.

 

However, Mt. Province Governor Maximo Dalog, interviewed today on GMA News, said his province has already recorded 40 dead with 10 missing. He was appealing for dogs that could sniff out bodies buried in the mud and choppers for evacuating the wounded, including one survivor who needed a foot amputation to save his life.

 

"The magnitude of these landslides is the first time in recent memory," said Dalog. Hampering emergency operations in his province was the loss of electricity.

 

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan said that as of Sunday morning around 175 bodies were recovered from landslide areas in Benguet, most of which were recovered from Sitio Little Kibungan in Barangay Puguis in La Trinidad town, while the rest came from the municipalities of Mankayan, Itogon, Atok, and Tublay.

 

KILLER SLIDE IN MT. PROVINCE

In Mountain Province, 38 bodies were recovered on Sunday in Sitio Bulala, Barangay Kayan East in Tadian town, as an entire mountain slope gave way. Ten more are reportedly missing while the three injured were brought to the Luis Hora General Hospital in the nearby town of Bauko.

 

A hill in Sitio Bulala collapsed at 6 p.m. on Thursday due to continuous and heavy rains brought by typhoon Pepeng. Of the 32 houses, 18 were damaged totally while five damaged partially. Able-bodied residents shown their traditional unity when they took the frontline of the rescue operations, local officials said.

 

Meanwhile, in the nearby village of Bunga in Tadian town, a residential house was also buried in a separate landslide on Thursday afternoon, killing three family members while two survived.

 

EXTENSIVE INFRA AND AGRI DAMAGE

Typhoon Pepeng brought extensive damage to agriculture and infrastructure in the various Cordillera provinces and in Baguio City.

 

The worst damage reported so far is in Apayao, where combined partial damage to agriculture and infrastructure amounted to around P1 billion, Governor Elias Bulut reported to media earlier.

 

Kalinga province incurred partial damage to infrastructure worth P86.9 million, and crops worth P78 million, according to the PDCC.

 

Earlier, Mountain Province reported infrastructure and agricultural damage worth more than P11 million, while Benguet reported infrastructure and agriculture damage worth P1.246 million, reported the CRDCC.

 

Baguio City registered infrastructure damage worth P10.5 million while Abra registered damage to crops worth P1.32 million.

 

The Cordillera remains isolated as the CRDCC reported Saturday morning that all national roads linking to the provinces of Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Apayao and Baguio City remain closed due to severe landslides and washouts.

 

The Ileb Bridge which connects Kalinga to Cagayan is reportedly destroyed, forcing travelers to take a longer route.

 

Meanwhile, CRDCC reported a total power blackout in Mountain Province while partial power interruptions were occurring in Benguet, Abra and Mountain Province. CRDCC has no report on the status of power in Apayao, Kalinga, and Ifugao.

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

I am going to create a thread called "UPDATES OF THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA" to make it easy for those interested to have an overview of the situation there including what is going on in that region, the relief efforts of the relief organizations and some articles with reports for instance from the rescuers or someone from the relief organizations being in the area to get an overview of the situation etc.

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

New Updates from Red Cross 12/10 at 17.15:

 

Help for 10,000 victims of Typhoon Morakot. Typhoon Marakot, with its more than 160 km / h devastated the coasts of CHINA, PHILIPPINES and TAIWAN. Red Cross helps with everything from the evacuation and shelter to flip-flops and cookware.

 

COOPERATION WITH ECHO: The EU's humanitarian aid department, ECHO, support Red Cross relief work in several places in the world.

 

SUMATRA: Thousands of people were homeless on the Indonesian island of Sumatra last week after two major earthquakes - that is why the Danish Red Cross received four million Danish kroner from DANIDA for the massive reconstruction work.

 

BURMA (aka. Myanmar): The wind continues to be frightening in Myanmar. Theme: A year has passed since Cyclone Nargis smashed into the Myanmar (Burma). Today the reconstruction of houses, schools and farms has started, but the horrors of last year are still haunting the survivors. Thousands are still traumatized by the disaster.

 

TAIWAN: Floods isolate typhoon victims: Typhoon Morakot that devastated TAIWAN recently was accompanied by floods and mudslides. Red Cross assists with search and rescue work.

 

What the Danish Red Cross does:

 

SUMATRA: Danish Red Cross has sent the equivalent of one million Danish kroner to SUMATRA. A large part of the mones goes to putting up 50 large tents to serve as temporary schools. 241 schools were so damaged during the earthquakes that they can no longer be used.

In addition, the Danish Red Cross received 300,000 Danish kroner from the Danish embassy in Indonesia. They include the purchase of 2,000 blankets, 2,000 sarongs, 2,000 hygiene kits and 600 tarpaulins.

 

http://drk.dk/nyheder/nyheder/fire+millioner+kroner+til+jordskaelvsofre

 

These news items are also posted at UPDATES OF THE SITUATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

 

Very soon - probably from Wednesday - I will only be posting in UPDATES OF THE SITUATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. NANCY

 

I am going to create a thread called "UPDATES OF THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA" to make it easy for those interested to have an overview of the situation there including what is going on in that region, the relief efforts of the relief organizations and some articles with reports for instance from the rescuers or someone from the relief organizations being in the area to get an overview of the situation etc. NANCY

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

News from GMA News.TV - saw them 23:30 in the evening, Central European time

 

Suits mulled vs San Roque dam operators over floods

(Update 2 - 12:48 a.m. Oct. 13) Legal suits are looming over the operators of San Roque dam for allegedly failing to properly warn residents along the Agno river basin in northern Luzon that last week's release of water during the height of typhoon “Pepeng" would cause massive flooding.

 

RELATED STORIES

 

» Arroyo orders relocation of residents in Benguet, Mt. Province

 

» Creation of special body to rehabilitate cyclone-hit RP opposed

 

» UN reaffirms commitment to RP relief efforts

 

» Senate to hear P12B calamity fund Tuesday

 

» RP to import rice next year as typhoons cut harvest

 

» Senate cancels Christmas party; funds go to typhoon victims

 

Flood in Pangasinan blamed on San Roque dam 2009-10-12 21:00:10

 

'Pepeng' damage to agriculture worth P308 million 2009-10-12 20:59:31

[Tonsu]

Ioshi is OK, just very VERY busy and not really able to update us.

 

Any word from your end Joe?

[strawberryfields]

I would love to send some stuff to the California friend, if it's still necessary/wanted.

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

UPDATES OF THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA ON 13 OCTOBER 2009

 

http://www.gmanews.tv/index.html

 

Residents of Taytay, Rizal wait in waist-deep flood for relief goods to be distributed Monday by World Food Programme Philippines. Veejay Villafranca-WFP

 

At the Puguis Elementary School in La Trinidad, Benguet, Tuesday, President Arroyo hands out relief goods to landslide survivors. Thom Picana

 

Air Force personnel help Catherine Vicente, a landslide survivor from Atok, Benguet after she was airlifted Tuesday to a hospital in Baguio. Dave Leprozo

 

Baguio woes to ease as three major roads partially reopen

Baguio City’s isolation caused by landslides and lowland floods is expected to ease with the partial reopening Tuesday of two more major roads leading there, allowing the delivery of limited supplies of food, fuel, and relief goods. Last weekend was the first time all roads to the tourist resort city were closed since the 1990 earthquake.

 

RELATED STORIES

 

» Fake branded clothes to be donated to cyclone victims

 

» Relief goods for flood victims continue to pour in from abroad

 

» Pepeng damage in Benguet almost P700M

 

» Senate panel OKs P12B supplemental budget for Ondoy victims

 

» Operasyon ng dam, budget sa kalamidad ipinasusuri sa Senado

 

Rain-loosened mountain soil endangers Ifugao hospital

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Typhoon Pepeng’s onslaught in northern Luzon has loosened the mountain soil in this capital town, which now threatens to bury the provincial hospital together with some 50 families who live within the hospital’s perimeter.

Citing reports from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), provincial officials said a nearby mountain slope is in precarious condition, and continuous rainfall of at least four days may induce a landslide that could cover the whole hospital structure. :(

Albert Indunan, Ifugao Governor Teodoro Baguilat’s executive assistant, told reporters that the ground itself on which the hospital building sits has also weakened due to the torrential rains brought by “Pepeng."

“MGB cautioned us that mountain soil and debris could totally engulf the entire hospital even for a few days of nonstop rainfall," Indunan said.

Ifugao’s 50-bed provincial hospital, located in Natuolan village along mountain slopes, was built in the 1980s. Indunan said the soil where the 30-year old provincial hospital building was constructed has become precarious.

“As among the ten areas in the country that are landslide prone, we who live in the Cordilleras know for a fact that the condition of the soil here is unstable," he added.

The recent typhoon that dumped record high rainfall in Northern Luzon has killed 238 in the Cordilleras alone as of last count.

The provincial government allayed fears of hospital patients and nearby residents, saying that preparations have already been made for the expected arrival of more rains in October and November.

At the same time, a new hospital building is expected to rise soon away from danger zone.

According to Indunan, the national government through the Department of Health has already committed 50 percent of the P100 million total cost for the construction of a new 75-bed medical facility in the capital town. - Floro Taguinod, GMANews.TV

 

OTHER REGIONS STORIES

 

Food shortage in islands off Cagayan feared - 10/13/2009 | 07:55 PM

Food and medical supplies in the islands dotting the Babuyan Chanel off the coast of Cagayan province are dwindling fast.

 

Pepeng damage in Benguet almost P700M - 10/13/2009 | 07:22 PM

Aside from recording the biggest number of deaths caused by typhoon “Pepeng," Benguet has also suffered millions of pesos in damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and private property.

 

High tide aggravates flooding in 3 Bulacan towns - 10/13/2009 | 10:38 AM

The high tide in Manila Bay on Monday worsened the flooding in three towns in Bulacan province on Tuesday, according to the head of the Central Luzon’s Office of Civil Defense.

 

ALPA near Mindanao threatens to become cyclone - 10/13/2009 | 07:48 AM :(

A weather disturbance near Mindanao that has intensified into an active low-pressure area (ALPA) is threatening to intensify into another tropical cyclone.

 

Arroyo orders relocation of residents in Benguet, Mt. Province - 10/13/2009 | 12:39 AM

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the immediate relocation of residents in landslide-prone areas in Benguet, Baguio City and Mountain Province.

 

Low pressure area spotted off Mindanao - 10/13/2009 | 12:24 AM

The country has yet to recover from the devastation wrought by "Ondoy" and "Pepeng" but state weather forecasters on Monday said it is monitoring another low pressure area (LPA) that is poised to enter the country.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 2 p.m. Monday, the LPA was spotted 790 kilometers east of northern Mindanao."

Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Luzon will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms," Pagasa said.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the Northeast would prevail over Luzon and Visayas coming from the Northeast and North over Mindanao, it added.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate except during thunderstorms. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

QUOTE (posted by Ioshi aka. Sparkle):

News comment of an American dweller in the Philippines: "I wish you all could see the amazing community spirit, charity and compassion in the Philippines. What I see happening here totally blows away the response to hurricane Katrina. People here have less to give, yet they are giving ABUNDANTLY. There is such a greater story than just the 'death toll' that the lame american media fails to capture."

 

I really like this American dweller's positive attitude.

 

He sees things from the positive angle:

 

- The community spirit

 

- charity

 

- People's wish to stand together and help each other!

 

I was uplifted after reading this post. :)

 

Thank you, Ioshi for posting this. :thumbsup:

[nancyk58]

CALIFORNIANS please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

UNICEF NEWS

 

Unicef.org news (1:30am, 14/10-09 Central European Time):

 

Unicef.org news (1:30am, 14/10-09 Central European Time):

 

Back to school in Samoa

 

UNICEF and partners provide a safe environment for tsunami-affected children

 

UNICEF in Emergencies

 

PHILIPPINES: Executive Director visits flood-stricken areas

Indonesia: UNICEF delivers hygiene kits to quake zone

 

India: Flash floods affect 2 million people

 

UNICEF seeks $3 million for children affected by Indonesian earthquake

 

UN Flash Appeal of nearly $75 million for assistance to victims of Ketsana / Ondoy

 

Back to school in Samoa: UNICEF and partners provide a safe environment for tsunami-affected children.

____________________________

 

RED CROSS NEWS / http://www.redcross.org/ B]

 

AmeriCorps Contributes to Red Cross Relief Efforts in American Samoa

 

A Texas-sized Show of Support for National Guard Troops

 

Red Cross Aids Storm-Plagued PHILIPPINES (see below)

 

Red Cross Blog

 

Disaster Online Newsroom [/b ]

 

Red Cross Aids Storm-Plagued PHILIPPINES (Friday, October 09, 2009)

Typhoon Parma is back. After cutting through the north part of the Philippines a week ago, it reversed course and returned on Friday morning as a tropical storm. Contending with widespread flooding, the global Red Cross network is now responding to immense humanitarian needs from this disaster as well as the recent Typhoon Ketsana.

Staff and volunteers with the Philippine National Red Cross are helping hundreds of thousands of people in evacuation centers across the country. The government estimates that nearly 40,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed by the storms.

“Multiple Red Cross responses during the past two weeks emphasize the value of our global network,” says Alex Mahoney, manager of disaster programs for Asia with the American Red Cross. “The Philippine National Red Cross was already on the ground, responding immediately to local needs. Meanwhile, we are sending financial assistance, supplies and a shelter specialist to support their relief operation.”

Specifically, the American Red Cross has mobilized aid to help those that need it most:

It is providing $950,000 in financial assistance and relief supplies to address the typhoons' impact in the Philippines and Vietnam.

It has tapped its pre-positioned stocks for both of these countries, sending thousands of insecticide-treated bed nets, jerry cans and blankets from its warehouse in Kuala Lumpur.

It has also sent an expert in shelter coordination to assist with local operations in the Philippines.

 

On the ground, the Philippine National Red Cross has been providing food aid to more than 40,000 families, as well as other relief items like hygiene kits.

 

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

 

DONATIONS to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at http://www.redcross.org.

http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=949551d37a934210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

 

On Oct. 9, the American Red Cross received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. government for typhoon relief in the Philippines. The grantor - the U.S. Agency for International Development - administers the U.S. foreign assistance program, providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 120 countries worldwide.

[sp★rkle]

I would love to send some stuff to the California friend, if it's still necessary/wanted.

 

yes, dear friend, it is still on going. you can message Jsalyers for more info, he is the one collecting the goods. :) Thank you in advance!

 

Ioshi is OK, just very VERY busy and not really able to update us.

 

Any word from your end Joe?

 

Yes Joey, any news? :)

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

UPDATES ON SITUATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA 14/10-09

 

http://www.gmanews.tv/index.html

 

62 towns in the nation's rice granary still flooded (10/13/2009 | 09:30 PM )

Three days after Typhoon Pepeng exited Philippine territory, vast areas in central Luzon remain flooded, with the nation's leading palay-producing province, Nueva Ecija, suffering from the most widespread flooding. Arayat town in Pampanga province - without the media attention directed at other towns - is enduring the deepest floodwaters, up to seven feet.

Data culled by GMA News Research from the Regional Office of Civil Defense for Central Luzon showed that as of Tuesday 23 out of Nueva Ecija's 32 towns, or nearly 72 percent, are still dealing with floods, although the waters are less than a foot deep or not as bad as those in adjacent towns of nearby provinces.

In 2008, Nueva Ecija topped the nation in rice production with 1,372,378 metric tons, more than 300,000 metric tons more than second leading producer Isabela. Nueva Ecija also led the nation in onion production.

A close study of the map shows that the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bulacan still have a total of 11 towns that are submerged in at least two feet of water.

These include the towns of Arayat, Bacolor, Masantol, San Luis, Macabebe and Sto. Tomas in Pampanga; La Paz, Paniqui, Moncada and San Manuel in Tarlac province; and Calumpit in Bulacan province.

Tarlac is the country's seventh leading rice producer with over a half million metric tons in 2008.

In Pampanga, Arayat town suffered the worst flooding, with five of its barangays (villages) submerged in six to seven-foot deep floodwaters. This was followed by Bacolor and Masantol towns.

In Bulacan, Calumpit town was flooded by at least four feet, while in Tarlac, La Paz town remained submerged in at least three feet.

 

Meanwhile, floods in the following areas (orange) have already receded:

Palayan City, Nueva Ecija;

Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija;

Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija;

Licab, Nueva Ecija;

Sta. Ana, Pampanga; and

Guagua, Pampanga.

» DPWH sees full repair of roads to Baguio in 1 month

 

» Flooding in Albay province prompts evacuations

 

» NDCC: ‘Pepeng’ death toll now 375, damage breaches P8B mark ____________________________

 

BBC World Service Text TV: Tsunami Drill across Indian Ocean:

18 countries in the Indian Ocean region are taking part in an exercise to evaluate the response of the region's tsunami early warning systems. The test will simulate the earthquake that struck off the northwest coast of Sumatra 2004 when 250,000 people were killed - more than half of them in the Indonesian province of Aceh. The drill is taking place today on the World Disaster Reduction Day. ZDF Text TV also mentioned this drill taking place on the "Welttag zur Katastrophenbekämpfung".

 

ZDF Text TV: Suffering following natural disasters: UN: 2,3 mio people died (in the past 3 decades).

According to information given by UN, 2,3 mio. people died in the past 3 decades from 1975 to 2008. 8,000 earthquakes, storms, floodings, landslides and fires caused enormous human suffering and vast devastations. In particular people in the poor countries are struck by these disasters.

 

Danish DR1: INDONESIA: Those missing after the earthquakes now declared dead

300 missing are now declared dead, so that the official death toll now amounts to 1,115 people. Enormous relief operations are on-going to help thousands of people who are homeless due to the earthquakes. The heaviest earthquake measured 7,6 richter and damaged Padang severely - Padang is a city of more than 1 mio inhabitants.

[nancyk58]

NEWS FROM DANISH RED CROSS 14/10-09:

 

http://drk.dk/nyheder/nyheder/myggenet+til+tyfonofre

 

MOSQUITO NETS TO TYPHOON VICTIMS

 

After two severe typhoons hit the Philippines last month, the Danish Red Cross now sends emergency aid for the equivalent of 750,000 Danish kroner.

 

Responsible for page: Julie Lorenzen. Edited on 14 October 2009

 

It corresponded to a whole month's rain, when the typhoon "Ketsana" hit the Philippines on 26th September and laid much of the capital Manila under water. Following "Ketsana", the typhoon "Parma" ravaged in the northern part of the country and resulted in severe flooding and landslides.

 

Over six million people are affected by both natural disasters, at least 530 have died while more than 400 are wounded.

 

Emergency aid for the equivalent of 750,000 Danish kroner

 

The situation is now so serious that the Danish Red Cross sends emergency aid for the equivalent of 750,000 Danish kroner - the money will go to buy 11,000 mosquito nets, 3,050 water cans, 1,500 hygiene kits and 383 kitchen sets to the many victims. The money comes from the Foreign Ministry's trade allocation.

 

Appeals recently issued

The goods, Danish Red Cross sends to the Philippines, is a contribution to the appeal of just 34 million Danish kroner that the International Red Cross has just issued. Money from the appeal will go to help 200,000 people for one year with, among other, relief, clean water and medical care.

 

Diarrhea and skin diseases ravaging

The two typhoons have resulted in almost 20,000 families having lost their homes, while more than 46,000 houses have been destroyed. Many are still forced to live in their partially flooded homes.

The number of cases of diarrhea and skin diseases increases with the recession of the water masses.

 

Volunteers work around the clock

Thousands of volunteers from the Filipino Red Cross has since 26 September worked around the clock to help the many affected and traumatized people with i.a. first aid and psychological support.

____________________________

 

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/174656/downstream-no-time-to-escape-a-dams-deluge

 

Downstream, no time to escape a dam's deluge

ANDREO CALONZO and SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews.TV10/14/2009 | 09:28 PM

 

Before the flood came the siren.

In the midst of Typhoon Pepeng’s powerful downpour, Gerald Lomibao, 23, a resident of Binmaley, a town four hours drive from San Roque Dam, heard the siren. Then barangay tanods rushed by to remind him that the siren meant that the dam was about to release water and Gerald and his family had three hours to evacuate to higher ground.

 

But in 15 minutes the flood had arrived, creeping steadily higher until the Lomibao family had to flee to an upper floor.

 

As the worst floods in the history of Pangasinan slowly subside, and residents ponder their ruined homes and property, the inadequacy of warning given by both the dam operators and local governments is only one issue that is spurring outrage from residents, senators, and activists,

 

Pangasinan’s provincial government and Senator Chiz Escudero have threatened to file law suits against the San Roque Power Corporation, which operates the dam along the Agno River. Senate hearings began Wednesday morning on the role the dam’s water release played in the flood.

 

The region received a record amount of rainfall starting October 8, compelling the dam operators to release enormous flows of water that eventually found its way into the homes of the Lomibaos and ten of thousands of Pangasinan residents. A dam that fills up and overflows is in danger of collapsing.

 

“With or without the dam, standard operating procedure," said Romualdo Beltran, the director for Dam, Reservoirs and Waterways Division the National Power Corporation (Napocor), which owns the San Roque Dam. Beltran spoke at a forum on the flood at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus on Tuesday.

 

Engineering professors at the forum questioned the timing of the water release. "Why did they have to wait for the water to almost overflow before opening the gates?" Guillermo Tabios III of the National Hydraulic Research Center asked. "They should have released water as early as October 4, when the water already exceeded 280 meters."

 

Beltran said no one knew that Pepeng would bring a 100 year rain, meaning rainfall that occurs only once every century. The heaviness of the downpour filled up the reservoir so quickly that all six gates of the dam had to be opened.

 

Pangasinan provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, in the midst of relief operations in his still-flooded province, lamented the rate of release.

 

They told us they will release water by Thursday afternoon. They said they would release 2,500 cubic meters per second. But by 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. Friday, they were already releasing 5,072 cubic meters of water.

 

“Why would they release so much water in so little time?"

 

It’s that same water that Gerald Lomibao and his family had no time to escape. At the time of this posting Wednesday evening, the Lomibaos and four other families were huddled on the second floor of the Lomibao home, with waist-deep water barely moving on the ground floor. – GMANews.TV

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

Danish Text TV (TV2) at 20:38: EARTH QUAKE HITS TSUNAMI-RAVAGED SAMOA

 

The earthquake measured 6,0 richter and hit an area near the western part of Samoa in the Pacific Ocean according to the US Geological Surveillance Center. It is less than 2 weeks after the series of tsunamis hitting the group of islands after a quake that measured 8 richter. The epicenter of the quake is west of Apia in the western part of Samoa.

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

THE PHILIPPINES NEED YOUR HELP

 

PHILIPPINES: Article as of 8 October 2009

 

UNICEF Executive Director visits flood-stricken Philippines

 

By Pamela Pagunsan

 

MANILA, Philippines, 8 October 2009 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman visited the Philippines yesterday to see the damage done by Tropical Storm Ondoy and subsequent massive flooding.

 

Residents of Santa Cruz village in low-lying Pasig City, metro Manila, experienced floodwaters three and a half feet deep. They were forced to evacuate to the nearby Liberato Damian Elementary School for safety.

During the first few days after the storm hit on 26 September, the school was home to 700 people, 300 of them children. Veneman met and spoke with children and mothers who remain in the school.

"My heart goes out to the families I met today, who now have no home but the corner of a school classroom," said Veneman. However, she added: "It was encouraging to see some children back in school, which brings a sense of normalcy to their lives after going through such a disaster."

 

Displaced families

One of the mothers Veneman met was Rossana Balboa, 40, who is staying in a classroom on the Liberato Damian school's third floor with members of her family and five other families.

"It's been very difficult. My husband is sick and because of the flood he doesn't have work, so we don't have money for medicines," she said, crying as she told her story.

It takes about 30 minutes to get from the evacuation site to Ms. Balboa's house, which is only accessible by boat or by wading in knee-high water. Her older children are guarding the house and their belongings, while the little ones – including the youngest, just 10 months old – stay at the school with her.

 

Essential supplies

Veneman also spoke with sixth-grader Jaime de Venecia, Jr., who is living on the school's fourth floor with eight other families.

"I want to go back to school when the waters subside. I want to finish my studies and get a job, even as a janitor, just so I can help my father," he said.

UNICEF has provided the Pasig City authorities with family kits containing necessities such as water cans, blankets, mosquito nets and sleeping mats for the evacuees. In addition, it has distributed kits with essential medicines for use by health workers in the affected communities, as well as water and hygiene kits to ensure that families have safe water for drinking and cooking.

Educational materials – including a 100-book library to replace the materials that were lost in the flood – will also help to provide a sense of normalcy for children.

 

Meeting with the President

At Villamor air base in Manila, Veneman met with the President the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. They discussed the flood response and the emergency relief needs that UNICEF can meet, as well as ongoing efforts to promote the rights of all children in the country.

 

While in the Philippines, Veneman also launched the UN flash appeal in which UNICEF is requesting $12.7 million to assist flood victims in the areas of safe water; school supplies; essential medicines to prevent disease outbreaks; and the registration and protection of children who have become separated from, or have lost, their parents.

 

Other articles will follow later.

[nancyk58]

UNICEF NEWSLETTER received per e-mail Thursday 15 October, 2009 :

 

Emergency update: Children in Asia are still struggling for their lives

 

From: UNICEF Denmark ([email protected])

Sent: 15. October 2009 15:31:53

 

The earth shakes no more, and the water has receded. Yet the world is changed.

 

Millions of children in ASIAa and in SAMOA are affected and many are struggling to survive and move forward after natural disasters a few weeks ago.

 

You can help them. Make your contribution here.

 

UNICEF is fully engaged in helping the children and help useless.

 

We vaccinate against infectious diseases spreading quickly through the contaminated water.

 

We ensure that children are quickly back to school.

 

We protect the many children who are now alone and in danger of exploitation and abuse.

 

The need for help is enormous.

 

And the extent of the disaster is not yet clear everywhere. UNICEF responded quickly, but the need in the next month exceeds the funds available to us at the moment.

 

Help us so we can continue our work to ensure these children's lives!

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Best regards

 

Steen M. Andersen,

Secretary General

UNICEF Denmark

 

I received a similar letter a week ago - one option was to donate money per telephone which I did so that my contribution could be of use as soon as possible.

________

 

GMA News.tv

 

Rains trigger another landslide in Benguet

 

10/15/2009 | 08:22 AM

 

Rains since Wednesday triggered another landslide in Benguet province early Thursday, setting back repair of a key highway and prolonging the isolation of a town there.

 

A report by radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo said the landslide occurred along Km 18 of the Halsema Highway in Tublay town, forcing officials to close that portion to traffic.

 

No one was reported injured in the incident, the report said.

 

The report quoted Public Works Cordillera head Roy Manao as saying they were planning to open the stretch of the highway between Km 18 and Km 26.

 

It added that the landslide prolonged the isolation of areas in Atok town, including Caliking and Topdac villages.

 

Benguet was among the areas in Northern Luzon affected by heavy rains causing landslides and floods as typhoon "Pepeng" (Parma) made its third landfall last week.

 

The National Disaster Coordinating Council's 6 a.m. report showed that Benguet landslides death toll has already hit 243, while 37 remain missing.

 

A whole community in Puguis village in La Trinidad town was buried in thick mud, rocks and loose soil when rain-induced landslide struck on the evening of October 8. - GMANews. TV

 

Some Benguet evacuees back in their homes despite danger 2009-10-15 20:36:41

 

Napocor admits existing protocol in releasing water from dams obsolete 2009-10-15 20:36:03

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

www.GMA News.TV

 

Mexican 5th grader donates to flood victims

 

House OKs proposed 2010 budget on 2nd reading

 

 

Black Eyed Peas singer brings aid to Philippines:

(by Teresa Cerojano, Associated Press) 10/15/2009 | 05:54 PM

 

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Black Eyed Peas singer apl.de.ap has flown to his native Philippines following devastating back-to-back storms to perform a benefit concert and deliver much-needed aid.

 

Apl planned to stage the concert Thursday evening in Manila during a brief trip to the country.

 

"I just want to tell everybody that my heart goes out to you guys and I will try my best to help out," he told reporters ahead of the event.

 

A Los Angeles resident whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo, apl said he was concerned when he saw television footage of the devastation and decided to make a brief visit.

 

The worst flooding in 40 years struck the rice-growing northern Philippines and the capital Manila late last month when a typhoon after a storm dumped heavy rains that triggered landslides and inundated towns, killing 712 people and affecting more than 7 million.

 

In addition to a concert with local artists, apl brought canned goods from California, donated cash and appealed for more money for victims from around the world.

 

The hip-hop singer, who was adopted at 14 and moved to the United States, said he remains proud of his roots.

 

Even before his storm outreach, apl was involved in projects in his native country.

He recently performed in a music video, created in partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism and MTV Asia, singing a new rap song, "Take U to the Philippines," which features the country's white sand beaches, mountains and bustling cities.

 

"I love our culture, and you know I wanna share that all over the world," he said. "I'm not ashamed of who I am, I'm very proud to be Filipino." - AP

 

 

Group questions San Roque Dam’s flood control capability

 

Ad Congress pulls out of Baguio, cutting revenues for city's rehab

 

PHILIPPINES http://www.GMA News.TV

 

 

New cyclone moving toward NLuzon-Taiwan area

 

10/15/2009 | 06:54 PM

A cyclone that may hit Philippine territory this weekend is heading towards the Northern Luzon-Taiwan area, state weather forecasters said Thursday.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the cyclone, which it said is a tropical depression, has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph.

 

“The tropical depression over the Marianas Islands was estimated at 1,870 km east of Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph. It is moving west-northwest at 35 kph in the general direction of central and northern Luzon-Taiwan area," it said in an advisory posted on its Web site Thursday afternoon.

 

The weather system “is expected to further intensify before it enters the Philippine area of responsibility this weekend," Pagasa said.

 

Filipinos are still reeling from the effects of tropical cyclones “Ondoy" (international name Ketsana) and “Pepeng" (Parma).

 

Earlier, Pagasa weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said the cyclone will be named “Ramil" once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility.

 

It is still in the Philippine Sea and has not entered our area of responsibility. It is still far away," Cruz said in an interview on dzRH radio.

 

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the cyclone, code-named Tropical Storm 22W, was making its closest approach to the Southern Marianas and is moving rapidly west at around 25 miles per hour (mph).

 

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the low-pressure area that passed through Bicol this week was estimated at 550 kms north-northwest of Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan. It said the LPA is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Luzon and Visayas. GMANews.TV

 

 

PHILIPPINE FLOODS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR URGENT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

10/15/2009 | 02:24 PM

BANGKOK - As the Philippines was struggling to recover from the aftermath of two tropical cyclones, delegates from 177 countries were meeting in Thailand’s capital to iron out a comprehensive climate change agreement that is set to be finalized this December in Denmark.

 

Scientists and environmentalists emphasized the urgent need for world leaders to halt the worsening of climate change and address its disastrous impact, which may include more frequent extreme weather events like tropical storm Ondoy, which ravaged Manila recently.

 

“[Developed] countries must act now with urgency to moderate these storms and spare the whole world from the impoverishing and devastating impacts of climate change, especially to low-lying archipelagic island nations like the Philippines," said Presidential Adviser on Climate Change Heherson Alvarez at a press conference.

 

Alvarez headed the Philippines’ 27-member delegation to the Bangkok Climate Change Talks. The delegation also included officials from the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Science and Technology, Energy, and Agriculture, as well as representatives from non-government and people’s organizations.

 

GMA News and Public Affairs producer Pia Faustino filed the video report below, part of a series of reports that she is doing for GMANews.TV on climate change until the pivotal UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Among the topics under negotiation until December are new emissions reduction targets for wealthy countries along with sustainable development actions, financial assistance, and technology transfer options for poorer countries that are hit hardest by the effects of climate change. - GMANews.TV

 

RP takes part in high-level climate change meet

 

Arroyo to sign Climate Change Act on Oct 30, Legarda says

 

Climate change behind twin disasters in RP – UN official

 

Rich and poor countries divided on climate deal

 

Experts not blaming climate change for ‘Ondoy’

 

No climate change law this year, Obama adviser says

 

For some, US remains villain at UN climate talks

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

PHILIPPINERNE: GMA News.TV:

 

Pepeng death toll now at 419, surpasses Ondoy’s 10/16/2009 | 11:50 AM

The death toll from typhoon "Pepeng" (Parma) has surpassed that of tropical storm "Ondoy" (Ketsana), according to figures from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Friday.

 

 

In its 6 a.m. report, the NDCC said Pepeng’s death toll was at 419, mostly buried by landslides in Baguio City and the provinces of Benguet and Mt. Province.

 

 

Ondoy’s death toll has been placed at 341, mostly from floods.

 

 

NDCC said Pepeng killed at least 333 in Cordillera region - 288 in Benguet alone - and 71 in Ilocos, 10 in Central Luzon, and four in Bicol.

Most of the deaths in Cordillera were due to landslides while the rest in other regions were due to drowning, it added.At least 51 were still missing while 184 were reported injured.

 

Pepeng, which made landfall thrice in northern Luzon starting Oct. 3, affected at least 662,274 families or 3,106,978 people in 4,585villages in 361 towns and 35 cities and 27 provinces.

 

Of these, 15,629 families or 74,868 people are still staying in 168 evacuation centers.

 

Some 4,040 houses were destroyed while 34,843 were damaged.

 

Damage to property was estimated at P10.437 billion, including P3.402 billion in infrastructure and P7.032 billion in agriculture.

 

The NDCC said power has been fully restored in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, but power interruption is still experienced in Aringay, Bauang and Caba towns in La Union.

 

Power interruptions are also being experienced in 14 towns in Pangasinan province, it added.

 

On the other hand, telecommunications services in Pasig City may be disrupted due to a damaged underground cable of PLDT.

 

Telecommunication lines of PLDT and Digitel in Cagayan Valley were partially restored.

 

In northern Luzon, Pangasinan officials are verifying reports of an artificial dam at the top of Caraballo Mountain ridge that may cause flooding and mudflow in Caurdenataan and Don Montano villages in Umingan, Pangasinan.

 

"Hundreds of residents in the threatened area had been evacuated by Philippine Army (and) local government units. The remaining residents have been alerted for possible evacuation," the NDCC said. - GMANews.TV

 

 

 

Residents protest alleged dumping of flood waste on riverbank

 

 

Storm 'Ramil' enters RP area of responsibility – Pagasa

 

 

Sen. Loren Legarda grills officials of National Power Corp. and San Roque Power Corp. during a Senate hearing on dam protocols Friday. Benjie Castro

 

Dr. Carlo Arcilla of the UP-NIGS discusses last week's flooding of Pangasinan during Friday's Senate hearing on 'Pepeng'. Benjie Castro

 

National Power Corp. president Froilan Tampinco justifies the need to release water from San Roque Dam at Friday's Senate hearing. Benjie Castro

 

-------------------------

 

LEPTOSPIROSIS

• a bacterial infection caused by a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called leptospira

• occurs through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or by contact with a urine-contaminated environment such as surface water, floodwater, soil, and plants

• affects both humans and animals

• leptospira have been found in rats, insectivores, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs and horses

• bacteria enter through broken skins, through eyes, nose or mouth exposed to contaminated water although less frequently through animal bites, handling infected animal tissues or swallowing contaminated food or water

• an occupational hazard for people who work outdoors or with animals, such as rice and sugar-cane field workers, farmers, sewer workers, veterinarians, dairy workers and military personnel

• a recreational hazard to those who swim or wade in contaminated waters. In endemic areas the number of leptospirosis cases may peak during the rainy season and even may reach epidemic proportions in case of flooding.

 

SYMPTOMS

Incubation period for the bacteria lasts 7 to 12 days. During this period, the following symptoms may be felt (although sometimes it can also be asymptomatic):

• high fever

• severe headache

• chills

• muscle pain

• vomiting

• jaundice

• redness in the eyes

• abdominal pain

• hemorrhages in skin and mucous membranes (including pulmonary bleeding)

• diarrhea

• rash

 

However, if these aren't treated, they may develop into kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, and respiratory distress.

 

PREVENTION

• reduce the rat population with the destruction of their habitats -- maintain a clean home

• avoid immersion in natural waters such as rivers, lakes and canals

• avoid immersion in floods

• use protective footwear or clothing when immersion to natural waters or floods is inevitable

• provide clean drinking water

 

Source: GMA News Research, Department of Health, World Health Organization

 

 

DOH: LEPTO SPIKING IN RIZAL AND METRO MANILA, KILLS 89

 

Leptospirosis, a usually rare bacterial infection, has afflicted more people in Metro Manila and Rizal in the last two weeks than it typically does in an entire year, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque at a press conference Friday morning. He attributed the spike to large numbers of people wading in floodwaters teeming with bacteria that causes the disease.

 

 

Public hospitals required to accept leptospirosis patients

 

 

LEPTOSPIROSIS, OTHER DISEASES HOUND FLOOD VICTIMS

AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.TV10/14/2009 | 04:01 PM

Leptospirosis, a usually rare bacterial infection, has afflicted more people in Metro Manila and Rizal in the last two weeks than it typically does in an entire year, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque at a press conference Friday morning. He attributed the spike to large numbers of people wading in floodwaters teeming with bacteria that causes the disease.

 

At the height of tropical storm “Ondoy," 24-year-old Gerald Samson braved the floods to save his neighbors from drowning in the murky floodwaters of Santolan, Pasig City. Little did he know that his selfless act would eventually cost him his precious health.

 

In an interview with GMA News' John Consulta, Samson, who saved the lives of at least 15 people, turned to the camera and begged for rescue. Doctors at the Rizal Medical Center said he is infected with leptospirosis and is already in critical condition.

 

Samson and Gonzales are only two of the hundreds of patients downed by leptospirosis, a disease usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may exhibit no symptoms at all.

 

According to the Department of Health, at least 28 people have already succumbed to leptospirosis this year. About 812 cases have also been recorded from January to October 11. Of these, 375 are from Metro Manila

According to the Medical City hospital in Pasig, it is experiencing shortage of rooms because of the sudden increase in the number of leptospirosis cases. The Medical City is one of the top hospitals in the country.

 

Most of the patients are male whose ages range from 31 to 40. The report said many of them have waded through the floods during the storm

Other threats

Apart from the threat of leptospirosis, flooding victims are also in danger of acquiring diarrhea, cholera, Influenza A(H1N1), and dengue.

 

In Pasig City Elementary School, GMA News’ Trisha Zafra reported that a lot of children ages two and below are infected with diarrhea due to contaminated tap water.

 

DOH Epidemiology Center chief Eric Tayag assured that that the government is now monitoring cases of diarrhea and cholera due to the possibility that their drinking water may be contaminated.

 

He also said that the government is coming up with solutions for the increasing leptospirosis cases in the country.

 

Nonetheless, he said it is also important for evacuees to take necessary precautions. He advised residents wading in floodwaters to see a doctor immediately when they encounter symptoms such as chills, red eyes or yellow skin, and not to wait until it is too late.

 

He also said residents should boil their drinking water or at least use a chlorine solution to stave off diseases from contaminated water, such as diarrhea and cholera.

 

On the other hand, Tayag warned residents the stagnant water can also bring about the killer disease dengue.

 

He also advised those in evacuation centers to practice good hygiene and treat their surroundings like their own homes.

 

As of Oct. 13, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said 45,129 families or 216,941 people displaced by storm Ondoy are staying in 443 evacuation centers mostly in Metro Manila and the provinces of Rizal and Laguna.

 

Of those affected by typhoon Pepeng, 16,583 families or 80,262 people are still in 245 evacuation centers mostly in northern and central Luzon. - GMANews.TV

[nancyk58]

Californians please donate goods to aid the Philippines

 

UPDATE OF THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA on 17 OCTOBER 2009

 

GMA NEWS.TV - THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

'Ramil' intensifies into typhoon, evac urged

 

10/17/2009 | 09:15 AM

After entering Philippine territory, tropical cyclone "RAMIL" (international code name “LUPIT") intensified into a typhoon, but may not directly affect the country until Tuesday or Wednesday.

 

But this early, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned residents in northern and central Luzon to voluntarily evacuate early.

 

We have to repeat our advise to those living near mountain slopes to evacuate early," Pagasa head Prisco Nilo said in an interview on dzRH radio.

 

It will be impossible for government to individually evacuate people in so short a time. If you live near a high-risk area, please evacuate to prevent loss of life," he added.

 

He said it is still too early to say where “Ramil" will head, saying it may be northern Luzon or Central Luzon. A third possibility is that the typhoon will head towards Taiwan.

 

Either way, he said “Ramil" will bring much rain to the areas it will pass. If it passes central Luzon, it may bring rains to Metro Manila, he added.

 

BE PREPARED

 

But Pagasa weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said residents in northern and central Luzon should not fall into a false sense of security, as “Ramil" could be gathering more strength.

 

It may make itself felt on Tuesday or Wednesday but weather conditions can change, and ‘Ramil’ may speed up," Cruz said on government-run dzRB radio.

 

He also said the relatively mild winds in Cagayan and parts of Luzon are not from a “weak" typhoon but from the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

 

Cruz added the longer “Ramil" stays in the water and does not make landfall, the more it can gather strength.

 

Once it hits, we should be ready for strong winds and rains," he said.

 

HEIGHTENED ALERT

 

For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard said it is on alert in the areas expected to be affected.

 

Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said going on alert is “automatic" for them, especially in the wake of recent killer tropical cyclones “Ondoy" (Ketsana) and “Pepeng" (Parma).

 

Even when it was still a low-pressure area we are already preparing," Tamayo said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He said the Coast Guard will be on heightened alert in areas under Signal No. 1, and full alert in areas under Signal No. 2.

 

As of 2 a.m. Saturday, Pagasa said “Ramil" was estimated at 850 kms east of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph and is moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

 

In its 5 a.m. bulletin Saturday, Pagasa said “Ramil" continues to move towards northern and central Luzon.

 

“Bicol Region and the Eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said.

 

But in its 11 p.m. advisory Friday that “Ramil" is not due to directly affect any part of the country “within the next 36 hours."

 

Pagasa’s 11 p.m. advisory forecast it to be 580 kms east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes Saturday evening, and 420 kms northeast of Virac, Catanduanes Sunday evening.

 

By Monday evening it forecast “Ramil" to be 380 kms east of Casiguran, Aurora.

 

Meanwhile, Pagasa said light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest and southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest and west over the rest of the country.

 

Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate except during thunderstorms. - GMANews.TV

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RAMIL'S WINDS MIGHT RIVAL PEPENG'S; NO WORD ON RAIN

 

MARK D. MERUEÑAS and ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMANews.TV 10/17/2009 | 11:43 AM

 

(As of 4 p.m.) Typhoon Ramil's slow hovering over the Pacific Ocean might allow it to gather wind strength that would rival, if not surpass, that of Pepeng, with Pagasa officials forecasting a late Tuesday or early Wednesday landfall in northern Luzon. But there is still no forecast about rainfall, which is how Pepeng did its most damage.

 

This was the latest warning issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in a briefing before Saturday noon.

 

Pagasa expects RAMIL (international name LUPIT), last spotted at 780 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, to make landfall on Tuesday in northern Luzon, which typhoon 'Pepeng' (Parma) had battered two weeks ago.

 

Ramil could become stronger than Pepeng," said Pagasa chief Prisco Nilo.

 

Ramil’s slow movement gives it more time to gather strength at sea," he added.

 

Weather forecasters are also not discounting the possibility of Ramil’s turning into a supertyphoon.

 

(Ramil could turn into a supertyphoon)," said weather sciences bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said, adding that a cyclone could only be categorized as a supertyphoon once it achieves strengths of at least 215 kph.

 

Ramil currently packs maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center with gustiness of 160 kph, and is expected to intensify as it approaches land.

 

Pepeng roared in and out of Luzon for 10 days before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility last Saturday.

 

Before making its first landfall in the Cagayan province on Oct. 3, Pepeng packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kph. It exited into the South China Sea the next day, but it made another landfall over Ilocos Norte after being pulled back on Oct. 6 by tropical cyclone "Quedan" (Melor), which was blowing toward southern Japan.

 

A relatively weaker Pepeng returned for a third landfall on Oct. 8 before exiting the country two days later.

 

Pepeng affected at least 662,274 families or 3,106,978 people in 4,585 villages in 361 towns and 35 cities and 27 provinces.

 

Don't be complacent

 

Government warned residents, particularly those in the northern regions, against letting the sunny weather lull them into a false sense of security.

 

Pagasa advised people living in high-risk areas to evacuate as early as now.

 

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, meanwhile, voiced concern over reports that residents living beside esteros or waterways and creeks in Quezon City have started returning to their homes.

 

He said it is time for people to learn the lessons from the onslaughts of “Ondoy" (Ketsana) and Pepeng.

 

“God forbid that situation, but it’s time we learn from the lessons of ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng.’ Let us not tempt fate so much anymore," he said on government radio.

 

Remonde reiterated President Arroyo’s instructions to local government officials and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to “enhance" their preparations.

 

Forced evacuations in Benguet

 

In the northern province of Benguet, where at least 288 were killed in Pepeng-triggered landslides, police officers were going house-to-house to tell people to leave the affected communities before the latest storm, Gov. Nestor Fongwan said.

 

"Definitely, they must go," Fongwan told The Associated Press.

 

Other Benguet communities identified as hazardous also were ordered evacuated, Fongwan said.

 

Disaster officers urged local officials to tell residents to immediately evacuate at the first sign of landslides, Cordillera regional civil defense chief Olive Luces said.

 

"Some people are just really stubborn and refuse to leave," she said, adding that survivors of Pepeng's landslides told of watching water seep from the walls and floors of homes before the ground collapsed around them.

 

Military choppers were airlifting food supplies to areas unreachable by land to prepare for Ramil, she said.

 

Excess water

 

To prepare for Ramil’s arrival, Pagasa had also advised dam managers to go on with the release of water in at least seven major dams in Luzon.

 

Because we are anticipating Ramil's landfall, we are continuing the opening of spillways and the rate of the water release," Pagasa weather specialist Max Peralta told GMA News.

 

Of the seven dams, the Magat Dam in Isabela province is currently releasing the biggest volume of water with 833 cubic meter per second (cms) through two of its floodgates.

 

The other dams releasing water to the river to prevent reaching their respective spilling levels include Angat Dam and Ipo Dam, both in Bulacan; Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam in Benguet; San Roque Dam in Pangasinan; and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija.

 

At 12 noon, the San Roque Dam increased the rate of its water release from 518 cms to 800 cms, as ordered by the National Power Corporation.

 

Because our dikes were destroyed, Pagasa is currently observing the water level in Carmen so that we could make sure that the added outflow from San Roque won't overflow," added Susan Espenueva of Pagasa’s hydro metrological division.

 

Villages to be affected by the release of additional volumes of water are San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug, Santa Maria, Asingan, Villasis, Alcala, Bautista, Rosales and Bayambang in Pangasinan.

 

Relief caravan postponed

 

Meanwhile, the threat of bad weather has prompted the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to postpone a relief caravan to areas affected by “Ondoy" and “Pepeng."

 

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said her agency has instead decided to speed up the distribution of relief goods to typhoon-hit areas.

 

We have put off the relief caravan of 100 trucks for now. In the meantime, the DSWD will deliver goods to typhoon-hit regions so they can have stocks of relief goods to use," she said.

 

She said they continue to distribute relief goods in Northern Luzon and in some parts of Metro Manila that are still flooded.

 

Other areas where the DSWD will distribute relief goods include those around Laguna Lake, Cainta in Rizal, and Pasig, Taguig and Muntinlupa cities in Metro Manila.

 

The caravan was initially scheduled to leave Malacañang at 6 a.m. on Monday to deliver relief goods to calamity victims in Northern Luzon.

 

Health officials say 1.7 million people exposed to floodwaters in and around metropolitan Manila were being threatened by leptospirosis, a disease spread by water contaminated with urine of infected animals. The disease has killed 90 of 1,027 reported cases, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

 

Pagasa, in its 11 a.m. advisory on Saturday, said “Ramil" intensified further as it continued to move toward the northern and Philippines.

 

As of 10 a.m., Ramil was estimated at 980 km east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora or at 780 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

 

Ramil packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph, and is moving west-northwest at 13 kph.

 

By Sunday morning it is expected to be 700 km east of Casiguran, Aurora. By Monday morning it is expected to be 470 kmseast-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora or at 510 km east of Tuguegarao City.

 

By Tuesday morning it is expected to be 240 km east of Tuguegarao city in Cagayan province.

 

“This disturbance will not affect any part of the country within the next 36 hours," Pagasa said.

____________

 

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Floods prompt revision of protocol on release of water from dams

 

PAGASA: STORM 'LUPIT' INTENSIFIES AS IT NEARS BICOL

 

Pepeng death toll now at 419, surpasses Ondoy’s

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