Noy: Phl has to plan rebuilding efforts based on resources

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino on Monday said the Philippine government will be grateful if the international community stays for the long term in rebuilding and rehabilitation of typhoon-devastated areas.

But the Chief Executive said while he could understand the capability of each country extending help, the Philippines also has to plan based on its own resources after outside support is gone.

“I think as a matter of prudent action we should be planning based on our resources and our capabilities in addressing our needs,” he told reporters during his visit to a mobile hospital in Tacloban City.

Asked about the importance of the international element in the rebuilding and restructuring work, Aquino said the Philippines would welcome all help that other countries could extend starting from materials, manpower and expertise.

The government is still collating all the data on the damage before it can come up with the actual need for rebuilding and rehabilitation, he said.

One of the first countries that helped was the United States, he said, noting the US provided massive lift capability from the start with its C-130s and Osprey aircraft and augmented the three C-130s of the Philippine Air Force.

“They sent a carrier battle group together with all of its components, from water filtration to the helicopters that enable us to really reach in a more timely manner all of these isolated islands, villages, and municipalities,” the President said.

Australia provided emergency health care to the survivors, putting up a mobile hospital. This helped augment the services of local hospitals that started to operate this week.

The Philippines, being a country composed of islands, also needs the expertise of other countries to minimize the effects of storm surges, the President said.

“We have a 36,000-kilometer coastline and we have to map out storm surge danger areas and this is dependent on topography next to beaches. Of course, more people working at the problem will give us the answers quicker,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we are hoping to draw on the expertise of everyone willing to help us, augment the resources we do have, and get our people situated in a better situation at the soonest possible time,” he said.

Additional aid

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced yesterday an additional $15 million for emergency relief activities in the Philippines.

Harper made the announcement during his visit to the Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish in Toronto where he met with members of the Filipino-Canadian community to discuss Yolanda and the government’s response to the crisis.

“I am very pleased to announce that our government will commit an additional $15 million toward emergency relief activities that should bring further comfort to the victims of this catastrophe. This brings the government of Canada’s commitment to date to more than $20 million,” Harper said.

Canada also said requests from Filipino citizens who are temporarily in Canada and wish to extend their stay because their areas in the Philippines were affected by Yolanda will be assessed in a compassionate manner.

Meanwhile, a week after the devastation of Yolanda, about 200 families in three barangays of Guintakan Island in Sta. Fe, Cebu finally received relief goods delivered through a helicopter of the British Navy Ship, HMS Daring.

Taiwan also launched the second phase of its assistance to the Philippines.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines said another batch of relief goods will be delivered to the affected areas in the coming days.

TECO said the Filipino-Chinese Cultural and Economic Association (FCCEA) will donate 10,000 packs of relief goods amounting to P1.5 million.

The Care to Help Charity Association chairman, Wong Yin-tien, also answered the call of the FCCEA and donated $6,000 for the relief efforts.

Debris removal

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has pledged $5 million to help kickstart the removal of some of the tons of debris in typhoon-devastated areas.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark yesterday said they need to raise $20 million to achieve the objective of clearing rubble initially for one million people in provinces affected by Yolanda.

Clearing debris is the first of many activities that UNDP plans to implement in the Philippines to help those who have lost homes, businesses, and jobs as a result of the typhoon.

Among the benefits of debris removal is a reduction of the threats to life and health which are caused by unsanitary environmental conditions.

More medical, defense forces

The second batch of Japan Disaster Relief medical team to be dispatched to areas affected by Yolanda will arrive this afternoon in Manila.

The Japanese government decided on Monday to dispatch the second medical team to take over the duties of the first team engaged in medical relief activities in Tacloban City.

On the other hand, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will expand its operations this week in other areas of northern Cebu to assist more people. – With Pia Lee-Brago