Chinese hospital ship arrives in PHL to help
Yolanda victims
(TACLOBAN CITY) A hospital ship from China
arrived in the Philippines Sunday to render medical aid to those affected by
super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan).
Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing said the hospital
ship "Peace Ark" dropped anchor 10 miles from here as it is too big
to be anchored at any port.
"I hope it would be a big help," Ma
told reporters here, even as she said patients have to be brought to and from
the vessel via ferry.
Ambassador Ma said the vessel has about 100
doctors to treat various medical conditions.
The "Peace Ark" is part of the
international efforts to help the Philippines, after super typhoon Yolanda
battered Visayas and Southern Luzon and left more than 5,000 dead.
"Peace Ark" has a capacity of 300 beds
and a staff of 106. PND (jl)
Finance officials to address post-'Yolanda'
concerns of Tacloban, traders in meet
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Finance officials are to
meet this week with local traders here to address their post-typhoon
"Yolanda" concerns as they try to reopen their businesses.
City administrator John Tecson Lim said Monday
the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue will be
represented at the meeting.
"(The traders') primary concern is security
and ... soft loans and implication of the BIR," Lim said at an
inter-agency meeting here.
Businesses here had started to reopen last week,
after Yolanda left behind a swath of destruction.
Lim also said security options are being
considered for the traders here.
He also said representatives of major malls here
may arrive this week to assess when to open the supermarkets.
Citing information reaching him, he said the
target is to have these supermarkets reopened by the second week of December.
PND (jl)
Government asks NGO's in cash-for-work
reconstruction programs to observe minimum wage
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Non-government
organizations engaged in reconstruction work here after super typhoon
"Yolanda" (Haiyan) were asked Monday to make sure they pay the
workers the minimum wage.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman issued
the reminder at an inter-agency meeting here, where she noted the minimum wage
for the region is about P260 a day.
"We will encourage other NGOs providing
cash-for-work to put in as near as possible," she said.
But she also asked the parties concerned to
ensure safety precautions for workers, especially those in areas of the city
that are still flooded.
Soliman also asked local authorities to make
sure workers in the cash-for-work program will have access to medicines to
prevent leptospirosis.
She pointed out leptospirosis is potentially
deadly. PND (jl)
Land Transportation Office in Tacloban deploys
teams vs overcharging
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) With fuel prices starting
to stabilize, the Land Transportation Office is deploying teams to catch public
utility vehicle drivers who jack up their fares.
An inter-agency task force addressing the
problems caused by super typhoon "Yolanda" was informed of this early
Monday, as the city continues to recover from Yolanda.
LTO personnel were also instructed to report to
their posts for deployment to key areas in the city.
During Monday's meeting, the LTO's representative
said the agency has told drivers to "go back to normal fares because gas
prices are almost normal now."
The LTO will also deploy teams to check for
overcharging.
Tacloban City was among the areas hit hardest by
Yolanda, which left more than 5,000 dead. PND (jl)
5 injured by 'Yolanda' get treatment aboard
Chinese hospital ship
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) At least five people
affected by super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) were the initial
beneficiaries of medical assistance from the staff of a Chinese hospital ship
that arrived in the Philippines Sunday.
The crew of China's hospital ship "Peace
Ark" immediately got to work on the patients, who were brought to it via
ferry.
One of the patients, Flora Anadi, 44, was
operated on after she suffered a fractured knee.
Another patient, Michael Martillo, 19, was
treated for appendicitis.
Martillo initially went to Metro Manila to seek
treatment but could not immediately be admitted there.
On Sunday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines
Ma Keqing had said the hospital ship is too big to be anchored at any port, so
it had to be anchored 10 miles away.
Ma said the vessel has about 100 doctors to
treat various medical conditions. PND (jl)
Government to work closer with international aid
agencies in 'Yolanda' rehab work
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) The Philippine government
is now working more closely with international agencies helping in
rehabilitation work after super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan).
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said
she brought up the matter during a meeting with representatives of the agencies
here Sunday.
According to Soliman, the meeting aimed to find
which group is working where, so they will not overlap or duplicate each
other's work.
"That is very important so we don't
duplicate or overserve some areas and underserve others," she said.
She added the system will help them act if there
are gaps for aid.
Meanwhile, city officials said 4,990 cubic
meters of debris had been cleared in the last three days, bringing to 71
percent the total debris cleared so far. PND (jl)
President Aquino challenges new officers,
members of the AFP to take active role in humanitarian response during
calamities
President Benigno S. Aquino III challenged the
new officers and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to take a
more "organized and active role" in territorial defense and
humanitarian response during calamities and disasters.
In his speech during the Joint Graduation of the
Major Services Pre-Entry Officer Courses held at the AFP Theater, Camp General
Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday, the Chief Executive reminded the AFP
officers and personnel of their role in non-military activities such as providing
disaster relief, constructing civilian housing, among others.
The AFP is composed of the Philippine Army (PA),
Philippine Navy (PN) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
"Bilang Commander-in-Chief, alam ko ang
bigat at lawak ng tungkuling nakaatang sa propesyong inyong pinasukan. Bilang
mga kawal ng bayan, hindi kayo puwedeng mawala sa eksena sa panahon ng
pangangailangan at mga di-inaasahang pangyayari," President Aquino said.
"Kapag may bakbakan, nariyan kayo’t handang
sumalag ng bala, mailayo lang sa peligro ang kapwa Pilipino. Sa panahon ng
sakuna, kayo rin ang inaasahang pumronta. Sa kasagsagan man ng lindol o sa
gitna ng humahagupit na bagyo, agad rumeresponde ang mga kawal ng bayan: hindi
nagpapatinag, at taas-noong tumutugon sa tawag ng tungkulin," he said.
The AFP officers and personnel play an active
role as among the first responders in the event of calamities and natural
disasters, the Chief Executive said.
The President said super typhoon
"Yolanda" (internationally known as Haiyan ) caused catastrophic
damage in the Philippines early this month. Yolanda was the strongest typhoon
to ever hit the country.
"Kamakailan nga lang po ay humagupit si
Yolanda: ang pinakamalakas na bagyong naitala sa ating kasaysayan. Sa ganitong
mga panahon ng trahedya, mahalagang kayong mga kawal ang magsilbing haligi ng
katatagan at sandigan ng ating mga kababayan," President Aquino said.
"Hindi kayo maaaring magpadaig sa anumang
kalungkutan; hindi kayo maaaring magpakita ng anumang anyo ng kahinaan. Alam
nating hindi ito madali, subalit sa mukha ng trahedya, nariyan kayo’t
rumesponde upang kumalinga, at paghugutan ng lakas at pag-asa ng mga
biktima," he said.
"Kasama ang mga pulis, bumbero, gayundin
ang mga volunteers, kayo ang humukay sa putikan upang mabigyan ng mas marangal
na pagkakahimlay ang mga nasawi. Kayo ang kumalinga sa mga biktimang kailangang
lapatan ng pangunang lunas," he said.
President Aquino called on the new members of
the AFP to fulfill their mandate of upholding the sovereignty, defending the
territorial integrity of the country and protecting the Filipino people.
"Sa pagpasok po ng 140 nating graduates sa
serbisyo sa araw na ito, siguradong lalakas pa ang puwersa ng ating mga kawal
na handang humarap sa anumang banta o hamon," the President said.
"Sa bawat pagkakataon, patunayan ninyong
karapat-dapat kayong maging bahagi ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas; buong
tapang na humaharap sa anumang pagsubok," he stressed.
During the ceremonies, the President, who was
assisted by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and AFP Chief of Staff General
Emmanuel Bautista, led the distribution of diplomas and the awarding of the
Presidential Saber to graduates.
2nd Lieutenant Mary Jean B. Cabillete, PA; 2nd
Lt. Kristyl May A. Beatingo, PAF; and Ensign Vanessa Katrina J. Tulang, PN
received the Presidential Saber Award.
The awardees of the Secretary of National
Defense Saber were Lt. Shiela Mae T. Enderez, PA; 2nd Lt. John Red A. Honrales,
PAF; and Ensign Tiffany Ann P. Palmares, PN.
Meanwhile, the awardees of the Chief of Staff
Saber were 2nd Lt Mike Vergel L. Conception, PA; 2nd Lt. Janna B. Ontong, PAF;
and Ensign Eunice Fe. Sabado. PN. PND (js)
Aquino administration mourns death of veteran
broadcaster June Keithley
The Aquino administration mourns the death of
veteran broadcaster and 1986 Edsa People Revolution figure June Keithley-Castro
who died on Sunday, a Palace official said.
"June Keithley-Castro’s battle with
cancer–which she had waged since 2009–is at an end. To her last breath she
exemplified courage and faith," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
said in a statement.
Castro, the wife of the late veteran news anchor
Angelo Castro Jr., was the host of Radyo Bandido at the height of the 1986 EDSA
People Power Revolution.
"Her courage enabled her to confront her
illness, but also that of her husband, Angelo Castro Jr., whose death we all
mourned in 2012, with dignity and the kind of serenity that can only come from
an uncompromising faith in the goodness of God and trust in His plan for all
things," Lacierda said.
The government also expressed its sympathy and
condolences with the family of Castro.
"As we pause to pay her tribute, we believe
we speak for the nation in extending our deepest sympathy to her children.
As she herself recounted, June Keithley
rediscovered her faith in 1985, when her son asked her to accompany him to the
Quirino Grandstand for the consecration of the nation to the Blessed Virgin
Mary," Lacierda said.
As host of Radyo Bandido, she called on
Filipinos to join the first People Power revolt at EDSA that ousted President
Ferdinand Marcos.
"From there, her reawakening to her faith
accompanied the period of national redemption and liberation that brought forth
the Miracle of EDSA: that peaceful revolution which was marked by her voice on
Radyo Bandido.
There, in the isolation of a radio studio,
together with two brave children, she spoke truth to power for 14 hours,
heedless of the danger of contesting the media apparatus of the
dictatorship," the Palace spokesperson said. PND (js)
Massive relief efforts underway in 'Yolanda'-hit
areas; over 1 million food packs distributed
Massive relief efforts are underway in the areas
devastated by super typhoon "Yolanda," distributing a total of
1,402,820 food packs to typhoon survivors, a Palace officials said.
“Relief continues to reach Yolanda-affected
areas in Central Visayas. Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas
reports that, since relief operations started on November 9 and until November
23, a total of 1,402,820 food packs have been distributed," Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang on Monday.
Yolanda, the world's strongest typhoon to hit
this year, caused catastrophic damage in the Philippines early this month.
"According to Secretary Roxas, given the
amount of relief distributed, most municipalities have been provided with 3 to
4 rounds of relief. On November 23, the Secretary reports that 112,071 food
packs were distributed to Leyte, with Tacloban City receiving 20,382. For Eastern
Samar, 33,460 food packs were distributed," Lacierda stressed.
The government is working hard to immediately
restore normalcy in areas devastated by super typhoon, Lacierda said.
"Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who was
tasked by the President to be the overall coordinator for the preparation of
relief items, says that, in order to prepare 150,000 family packs per day, the
government must purchase 1.2 million pesos worth of canned goods, 1.2 million
pesos worth of noodles, 1.2 million pesos worth of instant coffee, and 18,000
sacks of rice," Lacierda said.
"Each family pack contains 6 kilos of rice,
8 canned goods, 8 packets of noodles, and 8 sachets of instant coffee. The
Secretary reports that 2 million family packs were prepared for shipping and
distribution on November 24," he said.
In response to the directive of President
Benigno S. Aquino III to restore normalcy to affected communities, concerned
government agencies are speeding up the transition of relief efforts into the
full-scale rehabilitation and rebuilding of the areas damaged by the super
typhoon
"Sec. Purisima notes that relief
preparations undertaken by the government are unprecedented in the country’s
history. With massive relief efforts underway, the use of military trucks and
ships are spread across the affected areas. Government units are also making
sure that all relief items are accounted for and equally distributed,"
Lacierda said.
"Sec. Purisima also clarifies that for
international aid, foreign donors course these through their respective
organizations, which have their own distribution facilities. To date, foreign
financial aid pledged totals more than 343 million US dollars or over 14.9
billion pesos. This is in addition to the pledges of the World Bank and the ADB
to provide the country concessional loans," he said. PND (js)
Christmas tree brings cheer to city hall
employees in Yolanda-hit Tacloban
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) It may not be as fancy as
those found in malls and hotels in Metro Manila, but it is bringing cheer and
hope to a city that needs both badly.
Visitors to City Hall here were attracted Monday
to a Christmas tree and small Christmas lights near the City Assessors' Office.
The tree, less than three feet tall, was placed
atop a small table, and decorated with poinsettias and Christmas lights - weeks
after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Yolanda) devastated this city.
"Ngayong umaga lang iyan nilagay (It was
put there just this morning)," said City Assessors' Office OIC Danilo
Demillo.
He said the Christmas decoration came a bit
earlier compared to past years, when City Hall would not start decorating until
the first week of December.
But he said it was still welcome as it cheered
up the employees, who he said still hope to get a yearend bonus despite the
destruction brought by Yolanda.
When asked if the Christmas tree and decor
helped boost the employees' morale, he said it did.
"Parang ... Kasi Christmas, maligaya siguro
(In a way it lifted our spirits because Christmas is associated with
joy)," he said.
Tacloban is one of the areas hardest hit by
Yolanda when it devastated Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8. Yolanda left
more than 5,000 dead. PND (jl)
