Christmas rush to give aid to Sendong victims

Water and relief goods being distributed to evacuees in West City Central School in Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City where more than 5,000 have evacuated. Social workers say there is a lack in food, water, and other basic necessities. PHOTO BY JB R. DEVEZA

A unique Christmas rush is on: The rush to give to the victims and survivors of Tropical Storm “Sendong.”

Aid has steadily poured in for the thousands still reeling from the unprecedented flash floods that struck Northern Mindanao and parts of the Visayas last week, a national tragedy that has moved many to tone down their Yuletide revelry and extend their gift-giving to the grieving and the homeless.

At the Philippine Daily Inquirer main office in Makati City Tuesday, a bemedalled athlete walked in to donate a check for P130,000 to the newspaper’s relief drive.

Apryl Dalmacio Eppinger, a sprint cyclist who won two silver medals and a bronze at the recent Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, went straight to the Inquirer just hours after getting the check from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The amount, she said, represented the government incentives she earned for her SEA Games performance.

“It’s so close to Christmas and yet they’re mourning. It’s not fair to them,” Eppinger, 26, said of Sendong’s victims. “I haven’t experienced something like that, but this is something that really touches you. I have so much emotion that I can’t describe how I feel about it.”

A mix of Filipino, German, and Australian blood, Eppinger was the lone female cyclist on the Philippine team that competed in Jakarta. She said she only learned of the calamity days after arriving in Manila for a visit from her home in Melbourne, and felt that “it was only natural for me to help.”

In a message to the victims, Eppinger, who also writes a blog, said: “I felt your cries with my heart. I hope that (the donation) would help relieve some of your suffering. No matter how far away you are, there are many of us who want to support you. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.”

Hers was just one of the countless outpourings of sympathy for the people of the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and  Dumaguete, and other areas that faced Sendong’s wrath over the weekend.

Death toll

Nearly 1,000 people—998 to be exact, as of yesterday—have died from the storm and countless more are feared dead, according to a top disaster official.

“It’s possible the death toll will exceed 1,000 because there are many more missing,” said Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

As of Tuesday afternoon, the official death toll stood at 998.

According to the NDRRMC count, the number of those killed in Cagayan De Oro City has reached 616; Iligan City, 283; Bukidnon, 47; Negros Oriental, 38; Cebu, one; Zamboanga del Norte, three; Compostela Valley, five; Surigao Del Sur, one; and Lanao Del Sur, four.

“We have lost count of the missing because of the sheer number. Even the local governments have lost count already,” Ramos said. A Philippine Red Cross tally put the number of missing at over 500.

Local, foreign donors

Donations in cash and kind worth millions of pesos have since been streaming in from government agencies, foreign states and organizations, the religious, civic and business communities, and private individuals.

One of the biggest foreign donors was the government of Japan, which is sending P14 million worth of relief items that include urgently needed water tanks and generators.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday said it had dispatched 3 tons of high-energy biscuits to the affected areas to assist around 7,800 evacuees who were considered most vulnerable as they still could not cook their own food.

The government has specifically requested WFP emergency food and nonfood items—such as blankets, water tanks, tarpaulins and tents—for over 74,000 people in the areas of Cagayan de Oro City, El Salvador City and Kinoguitan of Misamis Oriental, and Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, as well as logistics support to help transport government relief items to these areas.

In Geneva, the Unicef said it had sent out appeals for $4.2 million on Tuesday to help an estimated 200,000 children in the evacuation centers.

The International Organization for Migration also said it had given $50,000 in emergency funds to support government efforts to deliver relief after an estimated 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.

In a statement, US President Barack Obama expressed the American people’s “deep condolences for the tremendous loss of life and devastation caused by recent flooding” and said Washington “stands ready to assist the Philippine people and government should humanitarian assistance and recovery efforts be needed.”

Cash-for-work

On the local front, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it had so far distributed some P7.8 million worth of relief assistance to the storm victims.

The amount consisted of P6.6 million from the DSWD, P632,333.75 from local government units, and P524,000 from nongovernment organizations.

The DSWD said another P28 million had been set aside for the cash-for-work program for the evacuees. Those who wish to avail themselves of the fund may do maintenance and clean-up work at the evacuation centers or help in the repair of the damaged houses, according to Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz announced the release of P10 million in emergency employment assistance funds to Northern Mindanao to help the flood victims.

Baldoz said workers rendered jobless by the calamity would qualify for the assistance package.

She said several programs under the Department of Labor and Employment’s Integrated Livelihood Program will be made available to the victims.

These include the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad), where workers in the affected areas would be tapped for  unclogging and clean-up activities.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said he had ordered the release of an initial P2 million to the Center for Health Development in Northern Mindanao to procure additional medicines and medical supplies.

Ona also turned over several boxes of assorted medicines, various supplies, tents and cadaver bags amounting to P13 million to local authorities to assist in the continuing relief efforts.

‘Frank’ victims

In Iligan City, hospitals of the Department of Health also took part in relief efforts.

Amai Pakpak Medical Center sent a team to an evacuation center and donated P100,000 worth of drugs, medicines and supplies.

Northern Mindanao Medical Center mobilized ambulances for transferring victims rescued by the Coast Guard and provided assorted medicines and supplies worth P500,000.

Mayor Hilarion Ramiro Regional Training and Teaching Hospital supplied the city’s health office with assorted drugs and medicines worth P100,000.

“My deepest sympathies go out to the victims of Sendong, their families and friends. We have not stopped with our relief efforts since Day One, and we will continuously provide assistance, especially medical services, to those devastated by Sendong,” Ona said.

The city and province of Iloilo, which were devastated by Typhoon “Frank” in 2008, will send P2.2 million in cash assistance to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, according to its chief executives.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor has approved the release of P1 million each to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan which would be coursed through bank transfer to the flood-devastated local government units.

“We understand their situation and their needs,” the governor said.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city would also donate P100,000 each to the two cities, which would be sourced from the P2-million allocation intended for assistance to other local government units in the city’s disaster risk management fund.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo has also issued a circular to all parishes and lay organizations to campaign for donations for the flood victims.

The Tagum City council on Monday approved the release of a P500,000 aid package for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, while the provincial government of Davao del Norte sent P1 million-worth of non-cash assistance.

In General Santos City, Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio also announced the allocation of a similar amount each for the two devastated cities.

Medical mission

The Philippine Medical Association said it would be dispatching  doctors, specialists and other medical workers in the coming days to address the physical and psychological needs of the victims.

The PMA spokesperson, Dr. Mike Aragon, said the group would deploy some 150 to 250 medical professionals under the group’s project “Oplan: Doc Santa.”

“Sendong stole Christmas from the typhoon victims. We will try to bring it back,” Aragon told reporters.

PDI drive

At the Inquirer, the newspaper’s relief drive had received donations from the following:

United Print Media Group, Oliva Firme Law Office and Associates, Linda Contreras, Electro Mekanique (through Rolando Samaniego), Petroleum Tech and Research Group, Xcel Oil Corp., Xcel Holdings Inc., Villa Enrique Private Ltd., Fuel Con Trading Private Ltd.;

Albert Rodriguez, Citadel Inn Makati, Steph Asuncion, Irene Perez, Pepito Olarte, Mark Prof Foundation through Josiah and Chiqui Go, Renato Mercado Valenzuela, Mariano Santos, New Plasti-mate Manufacturing (through Fely Law), Pack-rite Manufacturing (through Jose Law);

G-Travel, Augusto and Adoracion San Pedro, Jay Phillip Paala, Jorge Mañalac, Kelly Uy, Paolo Banoa, Marina Magallanes, Rohann Sojor, Malu Arboleda, Gregory Tung, Alcid Family, Anjo Mendoza, Rotary Club of Makati Guadalupe, Joy Tesora, Inquirer Marketing Department, Inquirer Libre, Philippine Daily Inquirer Employees Union and several anonymous donors.

The donations received by the Inquirer would be distributed on Christmas Eve to the victims in Cagayan de Oro and other parts of Mindanao through the Philippine Red Cross.

Cash donations may still be coursed through the Inquirer Help Fund’s Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Current Account No. 4951-0067-56, under the name Philippine Daily Inquirer Inc. until December 29.

Inquiries may be addressed to Bianca Kasilag or Connie Kalagayan of the paper’s corporate affairs office at 8978808 and 8994426. With reports from TJ Burgonio, Philip C. Tubeza in Manila; Nestor Burgos Jr. and Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas; Bobby Lagsa, Ryan Rosauro, Germelina Lacorte, Allan Nawal, Frinston Lim and Aquiles Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao; and AFP