Command post set up at Iloilo Airport to receive aid from international community

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 13): Command post set up at Iloilo Airport to receive aid from international community

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Region 6 has set up an incident command post at the CAAP building at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town in preparation for the coming in of relief assistance by the international community in the next few days.

This was announced by Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Rosario Cabrera after a directive from Malacanang alerted the RDRRMC to receive members of the international community out to bring relief packs for victims of supertyphoon Yolanda that heavily hit parts of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Antique.

Without naming the countries, Cabrera said the international relief members will come over to ensure systematic distribution of relief assistance in Panay on top of the international assistance in Leyte Island.

Cabrera admitted that the international media focus is on Leyte as the hardest hit area of Yolanda with international name Haiyan. She appealed to the local media to put Panay Island and its affected provinces, cities and municipalities in the disaster map to stir up attention to the plight of typhoon victims here.

Western Visayas has a total initial 195 deaths as of November 12 with Iloilo province having the most deaths at 133; followed by Capiz with 42; Antique, 11 and Aklan, 9. A total of 1,270 persons were injured and 15 missing while 244,642 families and 1.16 million persons were affected.

Damage to infrastructure in the region reached P144.58 million while agriculture damages reached P182.23 million on rice, corn and cassava, high value crops, livestock and fisheries.

Four provinces such as Capiz, Antique, Iloilo and Aklan were declared under a state of calamity, including Bacolod City and three component cities in Negros Occidental such as Victorias, Escalante and Cadiz and 15 municipalities in the region.

On the other hand, the United States government assured support and partnership with the Philippine government on disaster relief efforts.

According to the US Embassy, following formal request by the Philippine government, US Charge d’ Affaires Brian L. Goldbeck issued a disaster declaration announcing the immediate release of funds to provide health, water and sanitation support to those affected by the supertyphoon.

A disaster assistance response team (DART) was activated and went to Leyte immediately to assess the damages. Initial assessment showed the need for emergency housing supplies such as plastic sheeting and the need for clean water, hygiene kits with soap, toothbrushes, toilet paper, sanitary supplies and improved sanitation facilities.

In addition, USAID’s Food for Peace is organizing a shipment of 55 metric tons of emergency food products to sustain 20,000 children and 15,000 adults for 4 to 5 days in Leyte. It is also planning to ship 1,020 metric tons of rice sufficient to feed 60,000 people in one month.

The US Pacific command is supporting the humanitarian efforts of the Philippine government by providing maritime search and rescue, medium to heavy lift support and logistical support. The initial focus of military efforts include surface maritime rescue (SAR), airborne maritime SAR, medium heavy helicopter lift support, fixed wing lift support and logical enablers.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=586400