MANILA, Philippines?Packed noodles are very much appreciated but victims of Tropical Storm "Ondoy" also need other daily essentials to help them get through the day-to-day struggle to rebuild their lives.

"Please don't donate noodles anymore," Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral appealed on Saturday to the public that has gone to impressive lengths to help those who were affected badly by the storm.

"Noodles are a standard fare of relief packages. Right now, we still have a lot of it," she told the Inquirer.

Cabral said that while donating noodles was appreciated and welcomed, the survivors of the storm, especially those staying at evacuation centers, also need other supplies.

"For example, items of personal hygiene are very important, too," Cabral said.

These include, among other things, soap, shampoo, sanitary napkins, toothpaste, toothbrushes, underwear, footwear, cleaning supplies and equipment, utensils and kitchen supplies for cooking.

Cabral said these items were not usually "top-of-mind donations" that people give to disaster survivors.

She said that consumer health care giant Johnson and Johnson has offered to donate sanitary napkins upon hearing that the evacuees were also in need of them.

At a Cabinet-level meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council on Saturday, President Macapagal-Arroyo took note of the reported shortage of instant noodles in the market in the aftermath of Tropical Storm "Ondoy".

The Department of Trade and Industry is to procure noodles abroad.

It was pointed out that noodles donated from abroad will also be distributed to evacuees.