YOLANDA GROUND ZERO UPDATE:
LBC loading relief goods to the LBC container van
By Dindo Orbeso & Romy Zetazate
The Filipino owned LBC cargo and money remittance company continue to support the sending of relief goods which were packed and repacked by volunteers at the
Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church located at 2565 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Rev. Fr. Ben Ebcas, head of the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Roman Catholic Church
spearheaded the sharing of the members of the Filipino community in Toronto with the strong support from Filipino-Canadian Senator Tobias C. Enverga and his wife,
Filipino community leader Ms. Rosemer Albovias Enverga, and other officers and members of the Filipino organizations both civic and religious.
Rafael (Raffy) Policarpio, Canada’s LBC country head, said that his company is ready to ship the second batch of relief goods and other items intended for the victims of the strongest typhoon that visited the Philippines which devastated the country in the Visayas Island.
In fact, the simultaneous response of the members of the Filipino communities throughout the world attracted other communities to support the efforts of the Filipinos to help the typhoon victims to cover from the onslaught of the treacherous Yolanda (Haiyan Typhoon).
The LBC foundation will be responsible to bring all the relief goods to the Philippine National Red Cross and the Catholic Archdiocese in the Philippines. (St. Jamestown News Service)***
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RESTORE MEDIA OPERATIONS TO AVOID CHAOS — PPI DUREZA
“There will be confusion then chaos if desperate people are kept in the dark.”
Thus warned Lawyer Jesus G. Dureza, head of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) as he urged for the immediate restoration of mass communication facilities in the affected areas of “Typhoon Yolanda.”
Dureza observed that there is total breakdown of information system due to the devastation and it is urgent that this is restored immediately to help in the post-calamity interventions.
The PPI, the national organization of Philippine newspapers, through its president, rallied the media sector to help “locate missing mediamen” and assist them to immediately resume media operations. “Public information is badly needed in the devastated area. Today, the people are still in shock and are hungry not only for food but for information,” Dureza said.
He also urged the government to install temporary mass communication facilities to help restore order and provide support to the massive relief logistics operations underway. He said that based on his previous experience of handling calamity situations as presidential adviser for Mindanao, there will be confusion and chaos if desperate people are kept in the dark for an extended period, he stressed. The media can help give information on relief operations, allay fears and even give hope to the hopeless , Dureza added.
Radio, TV and print media operations beamed locally are indespensable in bringing to the affected masses timely information vital to the on-going relief work, he pointed out. Athough there are swarms of Manila and international mediamen already descending in the area for news consumption of the public outside, what is critically needed is the resumption of media for the locally affected masses, he said. For example, massive distribution of transistorized radios through the barangays tuned in to radio stations from neighboring population centers which are operational can be a stop gap measure, Dureza advised. A communications component, however make-shift it may be, is vital in any massive relief operations such as this one, he concluded.
Some publishers and editors, including reporters from Tacloban and Ormoc cities are still unaccounted for. An urgent appeal for assistance was received by the PPI office in Manila from managing editor Ruivevar Reyes of the Southern Leyte Times who is also PPI vice president based in Maasin City. His last report said that he was worried that due to panic buying, Maaasin which was not directly hit would soon run out of food and fuel. He posted a list of mediamen still unaccounted for. Another publisher-editor, Lalaine Jimenea of the weekly Eastern Visayas Mail based in Ormoc City said houses of her reporters had been totally destroyed and they were in urgent need of food, medicines and shelter.
Dureza said the PPI will pool some assistance from donors as “quick reaction fund” to provide immediate help to mediamen in need.
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Philippines: Aid flight operations pick up pace
The international response to the typhoon in the Philippines is still underway and aid flights are arriving in the Philippines from around the world.
Chapman Freeborn Airchartering’s global network and charter expertise have been extensively utilised by worldwide NGOs and aid agencies to deploy air cargo and logistics support. Chapman Freeborn’s worldwide offices are currently working around the clock to deliver humanitarian cargo from North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.
So far over 2000 tons of aid cargo has been delivered on behalf of Chapman Freeborn’s clients on aircraft types including Antonov AN-12s, Airbus A300s, Ilyushin IL-76s and Boeing B747 and B777 freighters. The relief supplies being rushed into the Philippines include tents, water purifiers, generators, medicines, medical equipment and even megaphones (loud hailers).
In the latest update on the Philippines ground situation, the leading aircraft charter specialist’s flight operations subsidiary Wings 24 advises that Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) is still heavily congested. However, the situation is improving; there is news that more equipment and supplies are getting through now that the aid agencies are establishing themselves in the region – coordinating relief supplies out of the airport and into the areas where people are in need of aid.
With limited space and main-deck handling capacity in Cebu, Manila International Airport (MNL) is increasingly being used as a hub for incoming wide-body aircraft and other flights until the backlog can be cleared.
In common with other large scale aid operations, Chapman Freeborn is looking at hub and spoke operations – utilising wide-body aircraft like Boeing B747 freighters to bring in 100 ton consignments which can then be broken down and moved to smaller regional airfields.
It is sometimes the case that smaller and more versatile aircraft can be utilised to good effect during aid operations of this kind – for example the L-100 Hercules (the civilian variant of the C130 military transporter) or its Russian-built equivalent the Antonov AN-12.
Chris Vandenplas, country manager at Chapman Freeborn Belgium, shares:
“In a time like this, our teams around the world are operating on high-alert. Taking various factors into consideration – documentation, customs, slots, fuel, and ground handling etc. – we tap into our global network to deliver the best air charter solution that can deliver relief supplies to the Philippines.“
Here is a short news video of two AN-12 flights arranged by Chapman Freeborn Belgium team:
http://www.focus-wtv.tv/?focus=14190
Since the disaster, the United Nations has launched an urgent aid appeal for funds to help the Philippines recover from the ravages of Typhoon Haiyan; many governments around the world have already pledged contributions toward relief efforts. It is reported that The World Bank is to extend a $500 million emergency loan to support reconstruction of buildings that can withstand winds of 250 kph (150 mph) to 280 kph and resist severe flooding.
About Chapman Freeborn Airchartering
Chapman Freeborn was established in the UK in 1973 and the group now comprises of over 30 offices around the world.
The company specialises in the charter and lease of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft for a wide ranging client base including major international organisations, NGOs, multinational corporations, governments, and a host of industries around the globe.
Nearly every emergency airlift mission in the last 30 plus years has involved Chapman Freeborn chartered aircraft. Major operations have included supporting the response to the Asian Tsunami, earthquakes in Pakistan and Haiti, floods in Burma, and famines in East Africa.
For more information, please visit: www.chapman-freeborn.com
Press Contact:
Gwen Goh (Marketing Manager)
Gwen.goh@chapman-freeborn.com
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Report details high costs of Philippine typhoons for families, baby girls
By Kathleen Maclay, Media Relations |
November 19, 2013
BERKELEY —
Tropical cyclones hitting the Philippines inflict more and longer-lasting economic loss than generally recognized, and are linked to dramatic increases in mortality rates for infant girls for up to 24 months after a typhoon, according to a study co-authored by a UC Berkeley assistant professor of public policy.
The research examines the aftermath of typhoons that have struck the Philippines over the last 25 years and was conducted by economists Solomon Hsiang at UC Berkeley and Jesse Anttila-Hughes of the University of San Francisco. The results may offer guidance for a wide range of post-disaster recovery efforts in the spotlight since the record-strength Typhoon Haiyan struck the islands on Nov. 8.
The economists found that while officials report roughly 740 deaths on average every year due to typhoon exposure in the Philippines, post-typhoon mortality among baby girls is approximately 15 times higher than that, likely due to the indirect poverty-worsening effects of the storm. Because the Philippines is so hard hit by typhoons every year, the authors estimate that these delayed infant deaths account for approximately 13 percent of the country’s overall infant mortality rate.
The risk of a baby girl dying after a typhoon doubles if she has older sisters in the home, and the risk doubles again if the she has older brothers – suggesting that the competition for resources among siblings may play a key role in these deaths. The researchers did not find a spike in the mortality rates for baby boys, but they uncovered an elevated mortality risk among baby girls that lasts up to two years after a typhoon.
“It seems unlikely that the households in which female infants die are intentionally allowing these infants to perish,” the researchers report. “It is more plausible that parents believe their newborn can cope with higher-than-average levels of neglect, and that there will be limited permanent damage. Unfortunately, for a small number of unlucky families, the assumption proves false.”
The authors also speculate that parents may provide more or different food or care to baby boys than girls, perhaps unconsciously.
Hsiang and Anttila-Hughes said that the high death rate for baby girls is probably the specific result of the economic aftermath that follows a typhoon’s destruction and the coping strategies used by families that struggle economically for months or years after a typhoon.The researchers document how families dramatically reduce spending on healthcare, education and nutritious foods for years after they lose their homes, property, infrastructure and income.
“Infants are more fragile than other family members, and some can’t handle it when families cut back. Their health deteriorates gradually, and then one day, they just don’t pull through,” said Hsiang. “We think that economic factors are key, because roughly half of the baby girls who die weren’t even born or conceived when the various storms hit.”
The spike in female infant deaths underscores the huge economic adjustments for typhoon survivors. The study found that in an average year, the income of Filipino households in typhoon-hit areas is depressed 6.6 percent due to typhoons that occurred the year before, leading to a 7.1 percent reduction in average household spending.
However, when particularly strong storms strike, incomes may fall more than 15 percent the following year – compounding loss from damage to a family’s home and belongings. And although or maybe partially because typhoons are a regular weather feature in the Philippines, families don’t seem to save in advance or borrow much money for recovery expenses.
Instead, Hsiang and Anttila-Hughes said, during a difficult year families reduce spending, primarily on medicine and education by about 25 percent, transport and communication by about 35 percent, and high-nutrient foods that include meat, dairy products, eggs and fruit by about 30 percent.
The researchers used a physical model that Hsiang developed in 2010 to replicate and record typhoon exposure in individual provinces. To measure household impacts, they matched their reconstructed storm data with economic information collected every three years by the Filipino government on family income, consumption and physical assets. They then linked both datasets to a third data set on births and infant mortality.
This triad of data sets allowed the researchers to characterize the multi-dimensional household responses presented in the working paper,“Destruction, Disinvestment and Death: Economic and Human Losses Following Environmental Disaster” and provide an alarming look at climate adaptation and mitigation practices.
“The fact that we continue to observe large typhoon impacts in one of the world’s most intense typhoon climates where populations have already adapted,” Hsiang said, “suggests that costs are so high that populations think that they are better off suffering typhoon losses rather than investing in additional protection”
This indicates, he said, that a central challenge for policy makers is to convince people to spend on costly investments that will protect them in the future. “It’s a bit like trying to convince people to wear a seat belt while driving a car or a helmet while riding a bike,” Hsiang said.
The researchers suggest several policies to help improve the post-storm situation for Filipinos:
- Develop credit subsidies for low-income families
- Expand insurance networks over larger regions, to reduce risk
- Educate parents about the risks of post-typhoon child neglect
- Tax goods like tobacco and alcohol to finance subsidies for children
- Enhance enforcement of building codes
Increase typhoon-related research and development funding.
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VIRLANIE
Giving back the smile to street children
Dear Friends,
Greetings!
With the outpour of messages we’ve been receiving from associations and individuals who expressed support for the recent calamity brought about by the Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), we are deeply grateful to be reminded how much love people have for Virlanie and for the Philippines.
We are blessed that the Foundation is intact and unaffected as most of our operations are in Metro Manila. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the communities of the beneficiaries under our programs in the provinces. Those in Leyte, Samar, among other areas remain in their shattered homes or evacuation centers with little to no food or water resource. The communications and electricity for most of Visayas is still limited, so we are yet to determine the extent of help needed and how they can be realistically provided. In the coming weeks, once transportation becomes available and the tension has mostly settled, we will be sending a team to assess the situation.
For now, we are exploring how we can initiate the SHORT AND LONG TERM support to our affected families and the people in the calamity areas.
And since emergency relief operations are already ongoing, we are instead considering to provide psychosocial debriefing to the affected children and families and have a closer look on the situation to determine the most practical and feasible scope and intervention needed thereafter.
Therefore, we will gladly welcome monetary donations to initiate and eventually sustain the noted plan for the affected children and families of the typhoon victims.
We thank you for your unwavering support to these causes and rest assured that Virlanie will develop a reasonable support program for those affected while we continue to bring smiles to our children here in Manila.
God bless the Philippines!
With much hope,
Dominique Lemay
Founder and President
Our bank account details:
Account Name: Virlanie Foundation, Inc.
Bank Name: Banco De Oro
Bank Address: Vito Cruz-Taft Avenue Branch,
Bankard building, 2422 Taft Avenue, 1004 Malate, Manila, Philippines.
Peso Account No.: 004580002426 (savings)
US Dollar Account No.: 104580108577
Euro Account No.: 304580112833
Swift Code: BNORPHMM
Virlanie Foundation, Inc.
4055 Yague Street, Brgy Singkamas, Makati City, Philippines. 1204
Phone +632 896 2289 / Fax +632 895 5232
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NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
MEDIA RELEASE
Nov. 17, 2013
NUJP to call for help for journalists and media outfits hit by Yolanda through “Tabang Media”.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is putting up once more its relief drive to help local journalists and local media outlets recover from Supertyphoon Yolanda.
Through “Tabang Media (Help for and by the Media)”, NUJP will take action not only to bring relief but also to help local media outfits rebuild infrastructure so they can deliver much-needed information to the local communities under crisis.
While national and international media outlets have given the big picture of the damage brought about by Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), information for and from locals in badly-hit cities and towns are not fully provided, if at all, when they needed it most.
Yolanda has rendered all local radio stations and other media outlets inoperable. It has claimed four lives and swept homes of a dozen more of our colleagues in the media community.
Initially, Tabang Media is reaching out and bridging the gap through material, financial and psychosocial assistance.
Four radio broadcasters are confirmed dead from the typhoon. As of last week, at least seven colleagues remain unaccounted for. Practically everyone lost their homes, and most if not all have relatives who died.
Stressing the need to help out the local media community, Rowena Paraan, NUJP Chairperson, said, “Since all local radio, television and newspapers have ceased to operate due to damages in equipment, offices and personnel, media infrastructure is non-existent. This means not having jobs for the next several months for the media workers, and, for the communities, not having information when they need it.”
Donations can be lodged to the official Tabang Media bank account: (Metrobank Kamuning Branch) Account Number: 229-7229-507-458; Swift code: MBTCMMPH.
For more information on how to support our colleagues in the Philippines please contact NUJP through mobile phone (09162221055) or email (nujphil@gmail.com).
Food packs, hygiene kits and clothes donations may be sent to the NUJP National Office, FSS Bldg, #89 Scout Castor St. Laging Handa, Quezon City.
For reference :
Rupert Mangilit
Sec. General, NUJP
Cong Corrales
Member, Board of Directors
Rowena Paraan
Chairperson
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Hagupit ni Yolanda sa community press.
Dino Balabo
Wasteland. Katatapos lang palitan namin ng text message ni Ricky Bautista, isang journalist mula sa Basey, Samar at kapwa correspondent sa Philippine Star.
Wala pa ring kuryente sa kanila, kaya di ko matawagan at baka ma-lobat na lalo. Dahil walang kuryente, hindi rin siya makapagpahatid ng ulat. Hindi pa rin daw maka-operate ang mga lokal na pahayagan at radyo sa kanilang lugar. Halos wipe out ang Basey, pero ang kanyang bahay ay isa sa apat na pinalad at naiwang nakatayo sa Brgy. Canmanila.
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From SOUTHERN LEYTE TIMES:
“Yolanda” refugees migrating to Southern Leyte
By Ruevivar “Wowie” Reyes
SOGOD, SOUTHERN LEYTE – The indirect effects of Typhoon Yolanda are still being felt in Southern Leyte as people from Tacloban City, Palo and Abuyog towns seeking refuge in the province are steadily coming in.
Refugees coming from northern Leyte are have been noted to be steadily streaming into the province mainly through Sogod town and Maasin City.
In an interview Regional Trial Court Judge, Fabio Albao, who is from Palo town, narrated the hardships he and his family experienced during the super storm and why he decided to temporarily relocate his family to San Francisco, Southern Leyte.
FUEL
For the last few days, motor vehicles have been lining up at the few gasoline stations for a chance to fill up in the face of shortage being felt. Deliveries from Cebu City are no longer enough to cope with the huge demand in the province. The gas depots in Tacloban City, Southern Leyte’s main supply source of gasoline, were heavily damaged.
MONEY FLOW
Sights of long queues at money sending companies and ATM machines continue throughout the province and to ensure security in the premises, more armed security guards are posted.
Refugees interviewed in Sogod town claim that Tacloban City and its neighboring coastal towns are now under “martial law type” lockdown amid reports of lawless elements breaking in ATMs and looting of money-sending offices.
There have also been unconfirmed reports of criminal bands stopping and robbing vehicles in devastated areas of Tacloban and Palo as some bands of men while trucks loaded with relief goods are being boarded and looted before these reach target areas.
Though Southern Leyte was also under signal no. 4 at the height of the storm, it was the least damaged among provinces in the region. However, the consequences of the destruction in the region are already being felt in the province.
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