More US troops arrive for relief operations

MANILA, Philippines - The United States government is sending more troops to assist in the ongoing humanitarian operations in areas devastated by storm “Ondoy” in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The US government immediately deployed 100 of its troops to assist their local counterparts in rescue and relief operations for hundreds of thousands of residents directly affected by the calamity, following the government’s call for foreign assistance amid devastation wrought by Ondoy.

Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Information Office (AFP-PIO) chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the additional troops comprise military doctors and medical personnel.

“They are mostly military doctors and medical personnel,” Brawner said.

Last Sunday, another US contingent from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, Japan also flew in to assist in the government’s overall massive relief and rehabilitation operations.

“The US Marine contingent from Okinawa arrived last Sunday to augment their colleagues who are already here,” Capt. Enrico Gil Ileto, deputy military spokesman said.

Ileto maintained that US troops have been coordinating closely with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the agency in charge of directing all humanitarian activities on the ground.

Yesterday, two US warships arrived at the Manila’s South Harbor with undetermined number of personnel and equipment onboard reportedly for deployment in Metro Manila and nearby flood-stricken areas in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

The AFP confirmed the arrival of the two US warships but clarified that the two vessels were only here for a quarantine anchorage.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said that the vessel and its personnel would participate in the forthcoming RP-US joint military exercises dubbed as “Phiblex (Philippine Bilateral Exercises).”

Earlier, the US Embassy announced that, as agreed, the conduct of Phiblex later this month would be advanced to assist residents affected by the flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces and also help in the massive rehabilitation operations in areas ravaged by Ondoy.

But Arevalo said he would still have to check into the report that US troops and their equipment aboard the two warships would also join their colleagues in the ongoing massive relief and rehabilitation of flood-stricken areas in Metro Manila.

Earlier, Brawner said that US troops now deployed in the metropolis are part of the US contingent which will participate in the Phiblex.

Brawner said the joint RP-US military exercises, done yearly and including water and air drills, will push through as scheduled.

He said assisting the flood victims is just a “humanitarian aspect of the Phiblex.”

Last week, the group conducted medical operations as well as relief distribution to the affected residents at Barangay Nangka Elementary School in Marikina City, one of the worst hit area in last week’s widespread flooding caused by Ondoy.

UN issues flash appeal for RP

The United Nations has issued a flash appeal that called on the international community to pledge emergency assistance to the Philippines.

The UN’s appeal focuses on urgent help in the key sectors of food/nutrition, shelter, water/sanitation, education, child protection, health, agriculture, livelihoods, logistics, communications, camp coordination/camp management, as well as early recovery.

According to the UN, the appeal is planned to last for six months and was developed in partnership with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

It also provides the framework for a common inter-agency understanding of needs and priorities based on the best information currently available and will be revised after one month when it will present a more complete picture of current humanitarian needs, including the terms of early recovery.

“To support the Philippine government, the international humanitarian community, including NGOs, the International Organization for Migration and United Nations agencies, is seeking $74,021,809 to address the immediate needs of approximately 1,000,000 of the 2,507,000 people that the government currently reports have been affected by the tropical storm and floods,” the UN said in a statement.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through its Missions in Geneva and New York and other foreign service posts, is actively supporting efforts to facilitate the appeal process and other international humanitarian assistance measures.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other officials of the UN last Sept. 28 to convey President Arroyo’s appeal for international humanitarian assistance in the wake of the massive devastation wrought by Ondoy.

The Secretary General expressed his sympathy to the Philippine government and Filipinos displaced by the floods and his condolences to the families of those who perished.

Meanwhile, UN Undersecretary General John Holmes, head of the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), expressed his agency’s readiness to coordinate international humanitarian assistance and stated that he is looking into the possibility of utilizing the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), an emergency humanitarian fund established by the UN in 2005, for the Philippines.

The Philippines continues to receive emergency disaster aid from individual countries, UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs).

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), through its Disaster Management Committee, expressed its support and solidarity with the Philippines in the aftermath of the tropical storm’s devastation.

Japan pledged emergency relief goods equivalent to approximately P10.478 million. The World Food Program (WFP) has made available $500,000 for the purchase of 742 metric tons of rice that will allow for the provision of a two-week ration of 25 kilograms of rice to approximately 178,000 beneficiaries.

UNICEF has provided about P6,908,330 in supplies to address the urgent needs of affected children and their families in the wake of Ondoy. The World Health Organization provided $42,000 to support health needs.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged $3 million that will go to the provision of clean water, health services, medical supplies and other essential emergency items.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan has ordered the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization to dispatch disaster relief aid for victims of storm Ondoy.

In compliance with the directive of King Adbullah II, the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization immediately put together a disaster relief aid package composed of food, sleeping bags, blankets, shelter boxes, medicines, and other medical supplies.

Foreign donations exempt of tax — DOF

Meanwhile, the Department of Finance (DOF) said yesterday that foreign donations to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for Ondoy victims are exempt from taxes and duties.

“We wish to clarify that foreign and overseas Filipino donors and the recipient organizations, whether government or non-government organization (NGOs) are not charged of any taxes and duties for their relief donations as long as they are accredited and registered with the DSWD,” Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said.                 — With Pia Lee-Brago and Iris Gonzales