RP, UN launch joint appeal for humanitarian aid to areas affected by typhoons

The Philippines and the United Nations will ask for humanitarian aid to rehabilitate large parts of the country devastated by four typhoons this year.

The UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is seeking $46 million to help the Philippines recover.

"The Philippines has been struck by four devastating typhoons since early September, each causing tragic loss of life, displacement of families or whole communities, severe damage to homes, hospitals, schools and infrastructure in several provinces," the UN information center said.

The appeal will be issued by Nileema Noble, UN resident coordinator, and Glenn Rabonza of the National Disaster Coordinating Council on Monday.

The UN information center said the more than 1,400 people who died or went missing in the typhoons "will require longer-term recovery efforts over the next 12 months."

"Reming" the most destructive of the four typhoons triggered mudslides that buried more than 700 barangays in the Bicol Region, leaving an estimated 1,200 people dead or missing.

9,554 families to be resettled

In Albay, at least 9,554 families living in barangays around Mayon Volcano will be resettled in sites identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as safe from mudslides and rampaging flood waters.

Cedric Daep, Albay Provincial Disaster Management Office (PDMO)chief, said identification of the families to be evacuated were done by local government officials during the recent Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) meeting here.

Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez said he had already sought the assistance of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in developing the relocation areas to make them ready for construction of houses and other needed physical facilities.

"We are still to negotiate with some of these sites. We hope they would respond favorably," he said.

The provincial government has yet to work for the acquisition of some of the "safe sites" since some of them are private properties, he added.

Set for resettlement are some 5,397 families from Barangays Alcala, Banadero, Kilicao, Malobago, Matnog and Miisi; and for partial evacuation those from Barangays Banag, Binitayan, Budiao, Busay, Culliat, Salvacion and Tagas, all in Daraga town.

At least 900 families from Barangays Maipon, Maninila, Tandarora, Morera, Travesia, San Rafael and San Francisco in Guinobatan town were also identified for partial evacuation.

The 829 families from Barangays Lidong, San Antonio and San Isidro in Sto. Domingo town and 1,428 families will be from Barangays Anoling, Gapo, Libod, Quirangay, Salugan and Sua, all in Camalig town will also be resettled.

In Legazpi City, at least 1,000 families would be relocated from Barangays Arimbay, Bogtong, Padang, Bonga, Buyuan, Mabinit and Matanag, data from the PDMO here show.

The resettlement sites are in Barangay Taysan in Legazpi City with 11 hectares; Barangays Penafrancia, Tabon-Tabon and Anislag in Daraga with 36 hectares; San Andres Resettlement Site in Sto. Domingo with 21 hectares; the Fidel V. Ramos Relocation Site in Camalig; and Barangays Binogsacan, Banao and Mauraro in Guinobatan, Daep said.

PDCC records showed that at least 112,000 houses, most of them located along coastline and lahar-devastated areas, were totally destroyed, while 67,000 more were partially damaged, in Albay due to super typhoon "Reming."

Some 6,308 families remain in 92 evacuation centers, most of them partially damaged classrooms, in Albay’s 561 barangays.

Meanwhile, Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said some 400 temporary shelters would be built by a team from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) at Ibalong in Barangay Taysan, for those families rendered homeless by typhoon Reming.

"We are calling this as transition area," he said. "These houses made up of light materials will be built by the carpenters from MMDA."

Those who would be given priority to occupy the temporary shelters are the residents of Barangay Padang, where over 250 families were either killed or went missing due to rampaging mudflows at the height of typhoon Reming. he added.

GMA orders power restored

Meanwhile, President Arroyo ordered yesterday the Department of Energy, the National Transmission Corp. and the National Electrification Administration to speed up restoration of electricity power in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said Mrs. Arroyo wanted the restoration of power accelerated in Albay, Marinduque, Sorsogon, Biliran, Camarines Sur, Aklan, Samar and other areas devastated by typhoon.

Mrs. Arroyo also instructed the Armed Forces to provide two helicopters from the Cebu-based Central Command for use of DOE and Transco in transporting manpower, equipment, and structures needed to restore damaged power infrastructure to the Samar provinces, he added.

Saludo said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will submit to the Department of Public Works and Highways a design for a P300,000 all-weather school building project.

The DepEd proposed three basic types of school buildings:

• The current standard model,

• A second model for areas frequented by typhoons, and

• A third for schools often used as evacuation centers.

The school building-cum-evacuation center will include ample toilet and sanitation facilities, and must be located well above the usual level reached by floodwaters.

Mrs. Arroyo also ordered the release of funds to the DepEd for the repair of school buildings.

Meanwhile, the DepEd will urge local government units to ask local school boards to buy new textbooks to replace those damaged by floods. — With Cet Dematera, Aurea Calica