⌛ Tropical Storm Ondoy

What I'm saying is this...there seems to be no immediate concern by the current administration on this event. They have moved a few assets around to help but that it so far, and as Fox reported $100,000...come on. Of course, I may have missed something as I typically do not listen ( nor do I care to) anything this administration says. That might be why so many of us (retired military) are looking into returning to the philippines to live.

 

Saw a newsclip on GMA with a bunch of US Marines helping with rescue efforts....whether they were based in-country (embassy Marines or perhaps from down south) or flew in from Okinawa I don't know...

 

NewsWorld newsPhilippinesPhilippines pleas for international help to cope with flood aftermathGovernment calls for humanitarian assistance after hundreds of thousands left homeless and country prepares for more storms
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Matthew Weaver and agencies guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 29 September 2009 08.27 BST Article history


The government of Philippines has appealed for international help to deal with the aftermath of the devastating floods that have killed 240 and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

The homes of nearly 1.9 million people in the capital, Manila, and surrounding areas were inundated by flood water unleashed by tropical storm Ketsana over the weekend.

With two new storms brewing in the Pacific, the defence secretary, Gilberto Teodoro, pleaded for help on national television. One of the storms could hit the northern Philippines this week and the other early next week.

"We are appealing for international humanitarian assistance," said the minister, who is chair of the National Disaster Co-ordinating Council.

He said there was an urgent need for international rescue teams, food, water and medicine. Teodoro said: "We are trying our level best to provide basic necessities, but the potential for a more serious situation is there. We cannot wait for that to happen."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has allowed her palace to be used for the relief effort, admitted that the flooding had stretched the Philippines' "response capabilities to the limit".

Ketsana dumped more than a month's worth of rain in just 12 hours, prompting the worst flooding to hit the country in more than 40 years.

Troops, police and volunteers have rescued more than 12,359 people, but unconfirmed reports of more deaths abound, Teodoro said.

The authorities announced today that a dam in northern Bulacan province had to release water for the second time in days to prevent a spill and urged villagers downstream to expect rising water levels.

Even the country's communist guerrillas said they would hold off on assaults and help villagers recover from the storm.

Television networks have broadcast images of mud-covered communities, cars upended on city streets and reported huge numbers of villagers without drinking water, food and power.

Since Ketsana struck, the government has declared a "state of calamity" in metropolitan Manila and 25 storm-hit provinces, allowing officials to use emergency funds for relief and rescue.
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World news
Philippines · Natural disasters and extreme weather
Environment
Flooding
Society
International aid and development
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About this articleClose Philippines pleas for international help to cope with flood aftermathThis article was first published on guardian.co.uk at 08.27 BST on Tuesday 29 September 2009. It was last updated at 08.54 BST on Tuesday 29 September 2009.

Personally

I also feel that $100K is a slap in the face, especially given the fact of local 'bailouts' to the tune of trillions. We seem numb and helpless to events around us. Over a thousand people died with Katrina slamming into the gulf coast, but it was years before the total was added up, and then was only an afterthought.

If I recall correctly, Cherkof, (number one in charge), was more distressed with his dinner menu at a restaurant than paying attention to his #2 man (Brown)'s repeated voice mail and emails of the impending diseaster. Myself, I would gladly buy the gun and introduce Cherkof to his last 10 minutes with us, thus allowing him to get some religion.

Again, people with great power exerting that power on weaker people.

Let's hope the next 2 storms head elsewhere.

 

I received this from a frind in the US, New York. For those who wants to donate:

**********************
HOW TO help VICTIMS OF Tropical Storm ONDOY (Ketsana)

NEW YORK – The Philippine Consulate General New York wishes to inform the public that, in accordance with the directive issued by Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, all agencies of the Philippine Government have been mobilized to provide aid and assistance to the victims of Tropical Storm Ondoy (Ketsana) which in six hours brought almost as much rainfall as is expected in a month to Southern Luzon. A State of Calamity has been declared in the capitol, Manila, and in 25 other provinces.

The Office of the President has put up Oplan Sagip Bayan, mobilizing government agencies through the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), civic groups, media agencies and other organizations, to provide immediate emergency assistance to affected communities at the local, regional and international levels.

Filipinos in the tri-state area and beyond have also expressed a desire to help. The Philippine Consulate General New York advices the community that they may course their donations in the Northeast region of the US to “Project Handang Tumulong”. Please make checks payable to “Handang Tumulong Fund” (with “Typhoon Ondoy” on the memo line), and send to:

PO Box No. 1362 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410, c/o Filipino American Association of Fair Lawn, Inc. (with 501-c3 status; Tax ID No. 22-33-53102,) c/o Mr. Steve Parrado; or the
Philippine Consulate General New York, 556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036 - c/o Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong
Those who wish to send their donations directly to the Philippines may do so through the following channels:

A. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)

NDCC Donated Funds
Current Account (Philippine peso) #0-00149-435-3
Swift Code: DBPHPHMM Account #36002016
Development Bank of the Philippines
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Branch
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Philippines

B. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Contact Persons: Imee Rose Castillo / Rey Martija (632-9312101 local 506-507 or 63-9517119)

US Dollar

DSWD Foreign Donationa
Account No. 3124-0055-81
ZIP Address: TLBPPHMMXXX
LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Philippine Peso

DSWD Donation
Account No. 3122-1011-84
LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City


C. Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Account/s

US Dollar

Metrobank
Port Area Branch, Anda Circle, Port Area, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Acct. No. 151-2-151-00218-2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
Bank of the Philippine Islands
United Nations Branch, Ermita, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Acct. No.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Acct: Savings
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM


Philippine Peso

Metrobank
Port Area Branch, Anda Circle, Port Area, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Acct. No. 151-3-041-63122-8 MBTC
Type of Acct: Savings
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Port Area Branch, Port Area, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Acct. No.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Acct: Current


Other queries and donations may be referred to the following agencies:

A. NDCC (Relief Goods / Rehabilitation Equipment)

Maj. General Glenn J. Rabonza
NDCC Administrator
Attn: Engr. Florentino Sison
Deputy Chief, Operation Division
Tel: (632) 9125979 / 9122665; Fax: (632) 9111873 / 9125668 / 9120984

Donation Drop Off Points

1. Pasay Area

National Resource Operation Center
Chapel Road, Pasay City
Attn: Mrs, Francia Fabian (632) 8528081 / 63918-9302356

2. Quezon City Area

Disaster Resource Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC)
DSWD Central Office
Attn: Rey Martiga or Imee Rose Castillo
632-951-7119 / 9517435
Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera at 63918-934-5625

3. Manila Area

DSWD_NCR
San Rafael corner Legarda St.
Quiapo, Manila
Attn: Director Delia Bawan
635-734-8622 / 734-8642


B. Medicines and/or medical and humanitarian missions may contact:

DR. VIRGINIA ALA
Chief, Bureau of International Health Cooperation
Department of Health
Attention: Ms. Noni Balbino
Chief, Technical Division
Tel: (632) 781-2843, Fax: (632) 781-8843



C. NGOs in the Philippines accepting monetary donations


1. ABC-CBN Foundation

Account Name: ABC-CBN Foundation Incorporation
Bank: BANCO DE ORO
Peso Account Number: 55630060113
Branch: BDO Mother Ignacia, Quezon City


2. GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION

Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.

Bank: METROBANK
Peso Account Number: 3-098-51034-7
Dollar Account Number: 2-098-00244-2
Type of Account: Savings
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM


Updated information on relief and rehabilitation efforts in communities devastated by Typhoon Ondoy well as status reports on recovery operations for the victims are available on the website of the NDCC at www.ndcc.gov.ph.

The Philippine Consulate General New York will be providing details on efforts of the Filipino community organizations in the Northeast USA as they become available. For more information on Project Handang Tumulong, please contact Deputy Consul General Melita Sta. Maria Thomeczek at 212-764-1330 ext 306 or Cultural Officer Marievic Dimaculangan at 212-819-8655. END.



Mae Q. Ermita
Philippine Consulate General
556 5th Avenue, New York NY 10036
212-764-1330 Ext. 336

 

I can agree with you John. I'm European and my own country (as small as it is: the Netherlands) has always been heartily prepared to help other countries i.c.o. disasters.
I know that the USA is one of the countries always there as one of the first to help.
I did read the following today, so I'm glad it's spreading out now. I hope Europe will do more than this first gesture.

Brussels - The European Union said Tuesday it was providing 2 million euros (2.9 million dollars) in emergency aid to the victims of tropical storm Ketsana, which has killed at least 240 people and has made hundreds of thousands homeless in the Philippines.

The money, which is being provided by the EU's executive arm in Brussels, the European Commission, will cover immediate needs such as food, safe drinking water, health, sanitation, temporary shelters and basic household items, including blankets and kitchen sets.

 

YouTube - Obama Denies Flyover of 'GOD & Country Rally'?1stTime In42Yrs Why?BecauseOf Its 'Christian Nature'


Watch this video then ask yourself. Could it be because the Philippines is a Christian nation? I hope not!

The Americans voted for change, I think they are getting it.

Be careful what you wish for they say.

 

Am interested in donating to help out. Any ideas as to best route? Red Cross, maybe? Want to make sure donations go to where they can help most.

 

We will soon find out as the storm now batters Vietnam
Very strange policy indeed

 

Watching the news reports down here on the Philippine networks...one thing that has struck me is the huge number of young Filipino volunteers helping out. Really great to see such commitment in young people....good sign for the future.

Also, even with the limited resources they have...the rescue services and military seem to be hard at it too.

Maybe the organizers of the Katrina fiasco can go to Manila and learn a few things....

 

Although I am far from the affected area, but I am as shocked as everybody else that the capital city of the Philippines would be in such a state. It wasn't like that years ago. Strong rains and typhoons didn't turn the place into an "ocean", so I am really bothered by this. If nothing is done to minimize or control the floods, I hate to think about what will happen if a stronger typhoon hits the area again.(God forbid!)