China donates $10,000 for flood victims

MANILA, Philippines - China has donated $10,000 to the Philippine National Red Cross for immediate disaster relief in the wake of the floods caused by typhoon “Ondoy.”

The Chinese embassy in Manila said yesterday Ambassador Liu Jianchao called Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the PNRC to offer the assistance for disaster relief, which check will be immediately delivered to the agency.

Liu said the damages caused by incessant rains and unexpected floods were “heartbreaking.”

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

“The Chinese side is convinced that, under the strong leadership of the Philippine government, the natural disaster would be overcome and the social life would be back to normal very soon.” 

Gordon for his part expressed appreciation for the help provided by the Chinese and said the emergency assistance embodies the friendship and sincerity of China with the Philippines.

Meanwhile, people can send relief for victims of tropical storm Ondoy to all Petron gas stations nationwide or to the Department of Social Welfare and Development central office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City and its field offices.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the most needed goods are food, water, clothing, beddings, towels, and items for personal hygiene.

The DSWD has distributed family food packs and clothing, as well as non-food items to victims in Metro Manila and other regions affected by the storm, she added.

Cabral said donors may call the following numbers for more details:

• Disaster Relief Operations, Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC)-Central Office at 488-3199 (24 hours);

• DROMIC-National Capital Region, 931-8101 to 05 local 506, 951-7119 (24 hours); and

• Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU)-National Capital Region- 734-8635 (24 hours).

DSWD social workers in storm-affected regions are coordinating with their local counterparts on for other appropriate social service, she added. 

As of yesterday, the DSWD said Ondoy has affected 75,629 families or 375,592 people.

The severely affected regions are Ilocos, Central Luzon Calabarzon, Soccsksargen, and Metro Manila, the agency added.

The DSWD said 200 evacuation centers have been set up to serve 22,943 families in the affected regions.

Of the 200 evacuation centers, 143 are in Metro Manila with 10,686 families or 56,986 people; 18 in Central Luzon, 3,240 families or 15,332 people; 35 in Calabarzon, 9,002 families or 42,637 persons, and one in Soccsksargen Region with 15 families or 75 people.

The evacuees were provided hot water, hot meals and other basic needs, the agency added.

In Metro Manila, the evacuation centers were set up in the cities of Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City and Taguig.

In Camarines Sur, some 200 people stranded in Pasacao were given food and non-food commodities, the DSWD said.

The tally of totally and partially damaged houses is still incomplete.

Sixty-seven houses were reportedly destroyed and 33 houses damaged in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Soccsksargen Region, the DSWD said.

Bishops ask for donations

Catholic bishops asked yesterday for donations for hundreds of families displaced by floods last Saturday.

Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francisco de Leon and Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros said the faithful can send donations of foodstuffs, clothing and other needed materials.

De Leon said more than 300 families have sought refuge at the church of Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish in Marikina.

Donations may be sent to the parish office, he added.

Oliveros said many parishes in Bulacan remained flooded.

Among the parishes submerged in water are those in Meycauayan, Valenzuela and Obando, he added.

Donations in cash and in kind may be sent to the diocesan Commission of Service in Plaridel, Bulacan, Oliveros said.

Fr. Bien Miguel, Antipolo social action director, reported that seven people died in a mudslide in Teresa, Rizal.

He asked people to course their donations through Caritas Manila since the road to Teresa has become impassable.

Caritas Manila sent yesterday at least 1,000 bags of relief goods to flood victims in Pasay City.

Fr. Anton Pascual, Caritas Manila executive director, said Caritas is short of funds because of the financial help sent to Mindanao and Zambales.

He appealed to people for donations in cash and in kind to help the flood victims.

Meanwhile, volunteers and missionaries of the Couples for Christ Global Missions Foundation, Inc. (CFC) have been packing bags of noodles, canned goods, bottled water, used garments, and footwear for needy residents of Gawad Kalinga communities ravaged by Ondoy.

Joe Yamamoto, CFC executive director, said GK sites in Tatalon, Brookside, Masambong in Quezon City urgently need relief.

“It has been less than 24 hours since we started mobilizing our people,” he said.

“We are still awaiting the response of our brothers and sisters in CFC. We will assess the needs and the goods as they come.”

At De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Alabang, Muntinlupa, donations in kind (clothes, medicine, food, water), and in checks payable to De La Salle Zobel will be accepted starting today, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to man the collection center on the ground floor of Gym 5 at the lower grades area. – With Helen Flores