Relief caravan stranded as Albay bridge collapses

LEGASPI CITY — A convoy carrying relief supplies for typhoon victims in Bicol was stranded in Guinobatan, Albay after a bridge, already weakened by recent flooding, finally collapsed yesterday.

About half of the 270 vehicles comprising the "sharing and caring caravan" had crossed the Travesia Bridge, which has a three-ton capacity, when it gave way.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Camarines Sur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte and Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzales were waiting for the convoy at Camp General Simeon Ola in Legaspi City when told of the incident by Arnold Matamorosa, head of the Albay second engineering district. Belmonte donated P2 million to the victims of super typhoon "Reming."

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. who joined the mercy mission, said the caravan finally reached Albay late yesterday afternoon with some vehicles branching out to other devastated areas.

President Arroyo ordered Andaya and NDCC deputy administrator Antonio Golez to proceed to Catanduanes, one of the worst hit by typhoons Reming and "Seniang" to help hasten the rehabilitation efforts there.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda directed Public Works regional director Orlando Roces to immediately put up a new steel bridge in two days to speed up the delivery of relief goods to the affected areas.

"We need to immediately restore the bridge due to the urgency of the mission to bring the relief items to the typhoon-hit provinces in Bicol," Salceda said.

Public Works officials here said that the stranded convoy may take a 12-kilometer alternate route via the Goodfound Cement Factory between Mauraro in Guinobatan and Palanog in Camalig.

Arnel Capili, director of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol, said that he would mobilize members of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council to extend security and other assistance to the stranded vehicles.

Capili said that 40 percent of the relief items would go to Albay, 30 percent to Camarines Sur, 20 percent to Catanduanes, and 10 percent to Sorsogon.

At Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Philippines has received over P370 million worth of donations and pledges in cash and kind from foreign and local donors, including governments and private organizations, for the relief and rehabilitation of typhoon-ravaged areas.

The donors included AusAID, which granted Australian $1 million to support the rehabilitation projects of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Development Program projects in the calamity-hit areas.

Canada donated a huge water treatment plant with a 144,000 liter per day capacity to Legaspi City in Albay, an inflatable hospital and P1.4-million worth of water purification tablets.

China gave a check worth $200,000 that was turned over to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Indonesia airlifted 25 tons of medicines, infant food, canned goods, clothing and other relief items worth P6.3 million.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency donated tents, blankets, generators and water tanks worth Y20 million.

Malaysia and its Malaysia Medical and Humanitarian Response Mission to the Philippines gave a planeload of emergency supplies and sent medical missions to typhoon-hit communities.

OXFAM of Great Britain donated P29.13 million for livelihood programs and provided 30,000 bottles of water and hygiene kits in Albay.

South Korea turned over a cash donation to the DFA worth $100,000 while Singapore sent relief supplies worth S$50,000.

Spain also sent a planeload of supplies worth $250,000 while the US Agency for International Development gave out immediate cash assistance of $250,000.

Other donors and agencies that gave pledges and assistance were the Telecoms Sans Frontier, UNICEF, World Vision, Canada-based Global Medic, Plan International, Israel, UN, the Filipino community in Saipan, Vietnam, Philippine Airlines, San Miguel Corp., Purefoods, Jollibee Foundation, Globe Telecoms, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, CARE Philippines, Aboitiz 2GO, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, ABS-CBN Foundation, Cebu Pacific, Atlas Consolidated Mining Corp., Benguet Mining Corp. La Fayette Mining Corp., Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Mining and Safety and Environment Association, Mirant Foundation, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Atzu Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Batangas Crown Lions Club, Coca-Cola Foundation and employees, Couples for Christ, McDonald’s, Petron, Operation Blessing, Peace Equity Access for Community Empowerment Foundation, Private Sector Disaster Management Network, Shelmed, Smart Communications, Tan Yan Kee Foundation, and Zuellig Foundation. - With Celso Amo, Paolo Romero