P-Noy in Tacloban

President Aquino visited Tacloban City and Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Sunday. He decided to stay overnight in Tacloban and may stay indefinitely. P-Noy conducted a briefing/hearing in both places, and again promised more aid was coming. He visited Palo yesterday.

The distribution of goods has picked up, with 40 towns of Leyte already reached and also in 9 towns of Eastern Samar, and Basey and Marabut in Samar.

US helicopters started airdrops in interior towns. Now, that he is in Tacloban, P-Noy should ask Philippine Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to airlift more antibiotics, anti-tetanus vaccines, and other needed medical supplies.

It would be good for P-Noy to visit at least 10 of the most devastated towns of the 80 towns in the area, including Ormoc, Isabel, Abuyog, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, and Basey and Marabut just across San Juanico Bridge, and bring more relief for a 2nd or 3rd round. The first round was good only for 1 or 2 days.

He should schedule a trip to Northern Cebu, and to Estancia Iloilo.

Metro Manila LGUs help

Taguig City has launched a “Bayanihan RoRo-Mission” to bring relief to Eastern Samar’s Guiuan, Mercedes, Salcedo, Quinapondan, and General MacArthur. Mayor Lani Cayetano hired a roro ship to carry P7 million worth of goods, generator sets, and water filtration machines, to pass through Batangas port.

Makati is sending a fleet of 6 trucks, which will stay in Tacloban to be used for delivery of relief. Makati approved P50 million for relief assistance to typhoon-affected areas.

Pasay Mayor Antonio Calixto led a team to deliver relief goods to Leyte. The Pasay City Council approved P2 million for the relief efforts in typhoon-devastated areas. They have set up operations at Villamor Air Base.

Parañaque Mayor Edwin Oliveros is sending a 20-man team to Leyte and Samar, to help in the relief and rescue efforts, with a P2-million fund approved by the City Council.

A team of 20 doctors and medical personnel are being sent to Leyte and Samar by Chinese General Hospital, while St. Lukes Hospital will send 15 medical personnel.

Caritas Manila, with CBCP-NASSA, and the Archbishop of Manila are raising P35 million.

Quirino Governor Junie Cua raised P200,000 for assistance.

Camarines Norte is sending a 15-man medical team, together with Red Cross volunteers.

According to Bishop Ruferto Santos, the Diocese of Balanga, Bataan sent P200,000 to the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte.

Rosario, Cavite Mayor Nonong Ricafuerte organized a boat load of relief for Leyte and Samar.

In the United States, Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat coach, taped a TV appeal for help. American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez is holding a benefit concert at stageit.com. The Los Angeles Lakers donated $150,000.

36 US choppers

The Philippine STAR and Manila Bulletin both published photos of a US helicopter landing in Salcedo, Eastern Samar.

Isolated barangays and coastal towns that were still not reached by aid are being served by 36 US choppers flying from the deck of the aircraft carrier, USS George Washington.

1,000 marines of the US Navy have been deployed in typhoon-ravaged areas of Leyte and Samar.

Japan is sending $30 million worth of aid, with 1,200 soldiers to help in the cleaning and recovery effort. Japan is also lending C-130s aircraft to help in delivering relief goods. The first batch arrived Sunday in Tacloban.

United Kingdom brought in 2 bulldozers, 1 forklift, and cargo trucks donated for Leyte, to be brought to Tacloban by C-17.

King Saud of Saudi Arabia gave $10 million.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $23 million assistance.

Coca-Cola gave $2.5-million aid.

Brunei is sending a donation, but no amount was announced.

The Malaysian Government and Singapore have also sent relief goods, and also lent C-130s for use in the relief effort.

An Italian aid ship has arrived in Cebu.

Hyundai donated P50 million.

Latest casualty toll 3,976

The last National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) death toll as of Nov. 18 is 3,976. The UN reported 4,460 dead; 18,175 wounded; and 1,590 missing. Considering the number of missing persons, the total is likely to surpass 5,000; 99 dead are confirmed in Guiuan.

Twenty-seven babies have been born after the typhoon in Tacloban, and 6 have died. They need incubators.

In preparation for future calamities, the following equipment should be acquired or given to every town: water filtration machine; generator, 3 dump trucks.

Other damaged provinces

The survivors of Capiz, Aklan, Iloilo, Antique, Northern Cebu, Palawan, and Oriental Mindoro are asking for more attention.

Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th District) pleaded for more help, especially for 22 islets and coastal barangays. The 3 towns of Bantayan Island: Sta Fe, Madrilejos, Bantayan have been totally destroyed, with its poultry industry wiped out. Chicken are being bargained at P20 per head. The Central Visayas Command should send a team on a Navy boat, and buy all the chicken to augment their food supply.

The coastal towns of Estancia, Carles, Sara, Concepcion of Iloilo also suffered major damage and in need of more help. The lucky towns of Central Iloilo should adopt their destroyed neighboring towns.

Mayor Clara Reyes of Coron is pleading for more relief for her town, together with Busuanga and Culion.

Kris Aquino and Angel Locsin led an ABS-CBN ‘Sagip Kapamilya’ relief team in Concepcion, Iloilo.

Survivors flee to Manila and Cebu

About 5,000 survivors have arrived at Villamor Air Base in Manila and about 4,000 have arrived in Cebu.

Villamor Air Base officials and DSWD are sending out calls for volunteers to take care of the arriving survivors. Those with relatives in Metro Manila are assisted by the DSWD to reach their houses. Those with no relatives are housed in DSWD reception centers in Mandaluyong and Manila.

Makati, Pasay, and San Juan are preparing to adopt some of the survivors.