Showing posts with label aid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aid. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Hillary Clinton vows support to RP’s fight versus terrorism

11/13/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured Philippine authorities of American commitment to help the country in its fight against terrorist groups. She also offered help to rehabilitate those affected by the devastating typhoons that hit the country.

In Marikina, one of those locales badly hit by the destructive storms, some 2,000 school children gave Hillary a rousing welcome. She arrived in the Philippine (a long-time ally of America) from a ministerial meeting in Singapore with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). After her visit, she will return to Singapore to be with Pres. Barack Obama in the APEC summit next week.

Clinton announced a $5 million worth of relief assistance in addition to the $14 million US aid for the victims of the typhoons. Much of the aid had been delivered by U.S. military servicemen stationed in the Philippines--- among them US troops of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA,) which help the Philippine military in its fight against insurgents.

The former US first lady was met by Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and other government officials. Hundreds of angry anti-US demonstrators tried to intercept the Clinton, but they were prevented by police officers to reach the airport. (Photo Credit: GamberoDem) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon "How to help victims of tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana)"

10/01/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


NEW YORK – The Philippine Consulate General New York wishes to inform the public that, in accordance with the directive issued by Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, all agencies of the Philippine Government have been mobilized to provide aid and assistance to the victims of Tropical Storm Ondoy (Ketsana) which in six hours brought almost as much rainfall as is expected in a month to Southern Luzon. A State of Calamity has been declared in the capitol, Manila, and in 25 other provinces.

The Office of the President has put up Oplan Sagip Bayan, mobilizing government agencies through the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), civic groups, media agencies and other organizations, to provide immediate emergency assistance to affected communities at the local, regional and international levels.

Filipinos in the tri-state area and beyond have also expressed a desire to help. The Philippine Consulate General New York advices the community that they may course their donations in the Northeast region of the US to“Project Handang Tumulong”. Please make checks payable to “Handang Tumulong Fund” (with “Typhoon Ondoy” on the memo line), and send to:

PO Box No. 1362 Fair Lawn , NJ 07410 , c/o Filipino American Association of Fair Lawn, Inc. (with 501-c3 status; Tax ID No. 22-33-53102,) c/o Mr. Steve Parrado; or the Philippine Consulate General New York , 556 Fifth Avenue , New York, NY 10036 - c/o Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong

Those who wish to send their donations directly to the Philippines may do so through the following channels:

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
NDCC Donated Funds
Current Account (Philippine peso) #0-00149-435-3
Swift Code: DBPHPHMM Account #36002016

Development Bank of the Philippines
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Branch
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Philippines

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Contact Persons: Imee Rose Castillo / Rey Martija
(632-9312101 local 506-507 or 63-9517119)

US Dollar
Philippine Peso

DSWD Foreign Donationa
Account No. 3124-0055-81
ZIP Address: TLBPPHMMXXX

LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City
DSWD Donation
Account No. 3122-1011-84

LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Account/s
US Dollar
Philippine Peso

Metrobank
Port Area Branch, Anda Circle , Port Area, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Acct. No. 151-2-151-00218-2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

Bank of the Philippine Islands
United Nations Branch, Ermita, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Acct. No.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Acct: Savings
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

Metrobank
Port Area Branch, Anda Circle , Port Area, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Act. No. 151-3-041-63122-8 MBTC
Type of Acct: Savings

Bank of the Philippine Islands
Port Area Branch, Port Area, Manila
Acct Name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Acct. No.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Acct: Current


Other queries and donations may be referred to the following agencies:
NDCC (Relief Goods / Rehabilitation Equipment)
Maj. General Glenn J. Rabonza

NDCC Administrator
Attn: Engr. Florentino Sison
Deputy Chief, Operation Division

Tel: (632) 9125979 / 9122665; Fax: (632) 9111873 / 9125668 / 9120984

Donation Drop Off Points

Pasay Area
National Resource Operation Center
Chapel Road, Pasay City
Attn: Mrs, Francia Fabian
(632) 8528081 / 63918-9302356

Quezon City Area
Disaster Resource Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC)
DSWD Central Office
Attn: Rey Martiga or Imee Rose Castillo
632-951-7119 / 9517435
Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera at 63918-934-5625

Manila Area
DSWD_NCR
San Rafael corner Legarda St .
Quiapo, Manila
Attn: Director Delia Bawan
635-734-8622 / 734-8642


Medicines and/or medical and humanitarian missions may contact:
DR. VIRGINIA ALA
Chief, Bureau of International Health Cooperation
Department of Health

Attention: Ms. Noni Balbino
Chief, Technical Division
Tel: (632) 781-2843, Fax: (632) 781-8843
NGOs in the Philippines accepting monetary donations


1. ABC-CBN Foundation
Account Name: ABC-CBN Foundation Incorporation
Bank: BANCO DE ORO
Peso Account Number: 55630060113
Branch: BDO Mother Ignacia, Quezon City

2. GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Bank: METROBANK
Peso Account Number: 3-098-51034-7
Dollar Account Number: 2-098-00244-2
Type of Account: Savings
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

Updated information on relief and rehabilitation efforts in communities devastated by Typhoon Ondoy well as status reports on recovery operations for the victims are available on the website of the NDCC atwww.ndcc.gov.ph.

The Philippine Consulate General New York will be providing details on efforts of the Filipino community organizations in the Northeast USA as they become available. For more information on Project Handang Tumulong, please contact Deputy Consul General Melita Sta. Maria Thomeczek at 212-764-1330 ext 306 or Cultural Officer Marievic Dimaculangan at 212-819-8655. (Photo Credit: Reuters/ Rey Bruna/ Phil Airforce) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon When they start telling us we're unworthy of help

12/16/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


When foreign entities tell us that we can’t have assistance because we are corrupt, don’t we feel red on the face? Don’t we experience goose-bumps to be told that we’re untrustworthy? Don’t we feel like immature juveniles when others tell us we need a course program in honesty? As a nation, is there "delicadeza" left in our bones?

I don’t know how to react on the US Millenium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) decision to scrap our anti-poverty aid. Help is available from the corporation, but it’s our worthiness--- the apparent corruption that bars the way. As a result, the suffering poor, the object of humanitarian assistance, are bound to miss the financial booty.

I’m stunned how easily we take trustworthiness for granted. The country got failing grades in the control of corruption (47%,) health expenditures (19%,) and primary education (32%) for FY2009.

Across the board, the exceedingly low grades reflect total failure in all fronts. I would not be surprised if our leaders will just shrug them off just like before. It's something the public knows all along.

Indonesia, Columbia, Zambia, places with corruption problems like ours fare better than us. Our country consistently scores lower than the median in at least 14 of 17 criteria considered in determining assistance. We aren't qualified and it is the people outside who tell us.

“To be eligible for US help, developing countries must show their commitment to policies that promote political and economic freedom, investments in education and health, control of corruption, and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law by performing well on 17 different policy indicators.

The board called upon the government of the Philippines to intensify its efforts to fight corruption and will closely monitor the country’s performance,” said Ambassador John Danilovich, MCC chief executive officer.”---Philstar (12/15/08, Katigbak,J)

The MCC reports corruption control in the Philippines precipitously slid from 76%, 57%, and 47% in 2007, 2008, and 2009 respectively.

The dire findings entail urgent measures which we can’t laugh off like kid stuff. It’s the same MCC which gave RP $21 million aid to combat corruption (without success?) in 2006. Aren't we ashamed?

Most of us aren’t ashamed. We are used to corruption. We are too focused with our personal lives. Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo and those who support her administration will probably just pretend they are doing something to stop the bane that's eating our society's foundation.

We know we need to act responsibly as individuals now. We can’t rely on the government or our friends to rid us of a problem that is partly our own making. We can’t claim we can’t do anything or pretend that corruption is far from us. Our way of life and the next generation’s future are bound to go down the drain if we don’t act. It’s just a matter of time that things will really look very nasty.

Without honesty, industry, and upright moral values, we will surely bring irreparable ruin to ourselves. The warning signs are out there. What we’re facing is the worst and the most difficult to control. (Photo Credits: Trainman; GmaResign; GmaResign;; GmaResign) =0=



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PostHeaderIcon Significant Numbers

7/09/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
10%
-The percentage price of one gallon of gasoline Saudis pay (45 cents) compared to Americans who pay $4.50/gallon on the pump.

P11.583 billion-The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCCl’s ) estimate of Typhoon Frank’s destructiveness. The amount constitutes 96.5% of the total expenditure the country shells out each year, covering an average of 20 typhoons, costing about P12,000 billion

P8,599/month
-What the lowly paid government street and utility worker needs to survive the rises in prices of commodities. According to Ferdinand Gaite, president of the Confederation of Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage,) this means a needed increase of P3,000 to the present salary of P5,999.

105 million
-The number of people who could drop below the poverty line due to the spiraling rise in fuel costs and prices of commodities. According to a World Bank study issued last week, 30 million of these people come from Africa.

$624 million
-The Asian Development Bank, one of the country's biggest foreign lenders is thinking of loaning the Philippines in 2009 to help boost the economy. An additional 300 million loan is scheduled for 2010.


550 metric tons
-The amount of uranium transferred from Iraq to Canada last week in a secret operation according to Pentagon. The yellow cake was discovered in 2003 by US forces in Iraq’s Tawaitha Nuclear Research Facility which was placed under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy.


2012
-Based on an ancient Mayan calendar, the year the world is expected to end. Survival groups from Europe, Canada, and the US are preparing for the apocalypse---catastrophic events such as typhoons, nuclear detonations, tidal waves, earthquakes which they believe would usher in the end of days.

P50,000 million
-Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s planned budget to repatriate more than 100 OFWs stranded in various countries in the Middle East.

$200
-The monthly salary of Filipino nurse-turned-maid Marichu Suarez Baoanan received from Amb. Lauro Baja who was accused of racketeering, illegal human trafficking, peonage, and forced labor. As of January 1, 2007, the General Industry Minimum wage of New York is $7.15/hour, roughly $1,601.60/month. Investigation of Amb. Baja is being urged by the Philippine government authorities.

$459,000
-Nazi hunters peg the reward money leading to the arrest of Aribert Heim, 94, known as Dr. Death who’s believed to have escaped to Chile with his daughter. =0=
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PostHeaderIcon Recurrent Shipwrecks And The Horrific Maritime Record in the Philippines

6/25/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
“The reason why there is the repeat of negligence among these shipping lines is because the law takes such a long time. We need to execute a swift prosecution and conviction of the guilty on this case," -Sen. Francis Pangilinan. Malaya (06.25/07, Montemayor, J.)

Sulpicio Lines---that’s the company! The recurrent shipwrecks befalling this shipping outfit are disgusting entries in the bloody maritime record of the Philippines. The inter-island company has the hideous distinction of being involved in several of the world’s unforgettable ship mishaps, one of them, the history’s worst sea disaster which claimed the lives of innocents, larger in number than those who perished in 911.

Princess of the Stars keeled at the height of Typhoon Frank (see pictures by Reuters.) With shifting inaccurate numbers of passengers which cast doubt on the veracity of the manifest, the ill-fated ship was whacked and swallowed by the churning waves---bigger and more fearsome than the rugged tall mountains nearby. Disaster-prone Philippines had been in a state of temporary shock, begging for international aid.

Pray for those who died. They need justice. Think of the victims’ families who shed tears, their eyes red in seething anger. In grief, they know their poor loved ones are gone, never to set foot on dry land again. Perhaps they’ll not get the justice they deserved. Think of the good works the hapless 800+ victims could have contributed in their lifetime if they weren’t cut silent by negligence, bad luck, or act of God.

MV Princess of the Stars, sank during Typhoon Frank, 800 plus missing or lost, June 22, 2008
MV Dona Marilyn, sank during Typhoon Unsang, Oct 24, 1988, 250 lives lost
MV Princess of the Orient, sank during Typhoon Guding, Sept 18, 1988, 150 lives lost
MV Dona Paz, sank after a collision with tanker Vector, Dec 20, 1987, 4000+ died (worst maritime disaster in history)

How can we rest our thoughts with this? We have ample blame to spread around. The "royal" liner sank with several capsized smaller boats at the height of the storm. Littered bloated bodies in the sea soon commingled after Typhoon Frank left, making it hard to know from which sunken ferry they came from. Does God bear grudge on our people?

Not learning its lessons, Sulpicio Lines pulled through (with least accountability) in the past. The rulings on earlier shipwrecks placed little blame on this company whose victims, too poor to wage protracted legal battles, hungered for justice.

Since the storm's path could be ascertained in real time, its progress could be accurately charted. There should have been ample wiggle room to successfully escape the typhoon if caution was observed.

Negligence and incompetence were more likely when too frequent mishaps recurred in the hands of the same people---the ship's crew and the Coast Guard. Whether Sulpicio Lines and the Coast Guard took safety and human life for granted was something the whole nation deserved to know.

The United States donated $100,000 to the ferry disaster fund. The French government also offered help. In appeals so familiar, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP,) Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo and the swanky troop of 59 senators who joined her to the White House, begged for more generous donations.

Who will ascertain that these dole-outs will go to the right beneficiaries? How much will the ferry company spend as aid and compensation? With taxpayer’s money, how much will the government spend to put this avoidable tragedy far in the backstage--- so that the next national disaster in the offing can catch our attention? =0=
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