US military ‘godsend’ to ‘Yolanda’ victims

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Nov 17): US military ‘godsend’ to ‘Yolanda’ victims

Residents protect themselves from strong wind created by a US Navy Sea Hawk helicopter from the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington as it takes off upon dropping relief supplies for villagers isolated by last week’s super typhoon Yolanda Saturday Nov.16, 2013 on Manicani island, Eastern Samar. AP

ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON — As soon as Navy pilot Matthew Stafford puts his helicopter down in the village of Borongan, he is rushed by dozens of local men who form a line to unload the supplies he has flown in from the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.

On the Philippine islands of Leyte and Samar that were shattered by Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), there is no doubt about it: the US military has been a godsend.

“It is awesome to see this,” says one grateful villager. “They are saving us.”

Villagers stranded by last week’s Typhoon Yolanda scramble for aid from a US Navy Sea Hawk helicopter from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the coastal town of Tanawan, central Philippines Sunday, Nov. 17. 2013.

But while US military support can be critical when disasters like Yolanda strike, staging massive humanitarian relief missions for allies in need isn’t just about being a good neighbor. They can be a strategic and publicity goldmine for US troops whose presence in Asia isn’t always portrayed in such a favorable light — and a powerful warning to countries that aren’t on board.

This aerial photo shows the devastation caused by last week’s typhoon which lashed Leyte province, near the coastal town of Tanawan, in central Philippines Sunday, Nov. 17. 2013. AP

“These disasters are not unique only to the Philippines. It will send a signal to all of Southeast Asia, to Asia, that the US is serious about its presence here,” said Philippine political analyst Ramon Casiple. “It’s easy to translate this capability for disaster handling into handling warfare. This is the new orientation of the task forces.”

From the military perspective, humanitarian missions like the ongoing Operation Damayan in the Philippines offer concrete benefits — the chance to operate in far-flung places, build military-to-military alliances and get realistic training — that they may later apply to their primary mission, which will always be fighting and winning wars.

“Crisis response planning is a skillset for the military, so when you have an opportunity to execute crisis response it’s good for your planning team,” said Rear Adm. Mark C. Montgomery, who commands the George Washington strike group, stationed offshore in the Gulf of Leyte. “So, sure, there is a benefit there. But in reality the reason we do this mission is because in the Navy’s list of missions this is one of the significant efforts we plan for.”

In the week since the disaster, the Philippines has started to receive support from military forces around the region. Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan have sent aircraft or personnel and more support is expected soon from Brunei, Great Britain, New Zealand and Thailand.

A crew member of a US Navy Sea Hawk helicopter from the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington looks at the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda near the coastal town of Tanawan, central Philippines Sunday, Nov. 17. 2013. AP

But none has come close to matching the US. Equally importantly, America’s regional rival China has not sent any military personnel, and contributed relatively tiny financial aid.

“This is being done in a big way that highlights the meager response of China — that’s the politics there. They’re saying China is not actually your friend in the region,” said Casiple.

“I’m sure China is watching and assessing,” he said. China announced Sunday it is ready to send rescue and medical teams to the Philippines, but did not say when the teams would depart.

For US allies like the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand and to some extent Indonesia, it is an affirmation of the US commitment. For others — Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar who are more closely aligned with China — he said the mission is a not-so-subtle message that the U.S remains the biggest power in the region.

Within hours of the typhoon, US Marines were on their way from their bases in Japan to assess the damage and plan out their response. Within days, the George Washington was pulling out of Hong Kong to lead its half-dozen ship battle group to the Gulf of Leyte. By the time they arrived, the US Air Force was already in action.

According to the Marines, US military aircraft have put in nearly 480 flight hours in 186 aircraft sorties, moved nearly 1,200 relief workers into the devastated city of Tacloban and have airlifted nearly 2,900 displaced people from the affected areas. On Saturday alone, they delivered more than 118 tons of food, water and shelter items to Tacloban, Borongan and Guiuan — some of the hardest-hit regions.

More than 600 US military personnel are currently ashore in the Philippines. The USS George Washington strike group adds another 6,200 sailors supporting air operations, and 1,000 Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are expected to arrive later this week.

“Getting to help people is actually the primary thing that we signed up to do,” Toby Pickens, a Navy rescue diver, said after helping off-lift supplies during several hours of helicopter operations from the George Washington. “It’s not so much the combat that we are looking for … Compared to anything else we do, I would say that this is by far the tops.”

US military public affairs offices, meanwhile, have been pushing out a torrent of photos, text updates, videos and media packages to play up that message of friendship and support.

Col. Miguel Okol, a spokesman for the Philippine Air Force, said that while he is grateful to the US assistance, he is also keenly aware that this is a military operation, with military implications.

He noted that by working together on humanitarian missions, US and Filipino soldiers are in effect conducting joint military exercises, such as while operating C-130 transport planes. The US has deployed 15 of them in the Philippines, which has three of its own.

“No country buys these kind of transports” purely for humanitarian purposes, he said as he watched two C-130 transport aircraft, one from each country, unload supplies at Villamor Air Base in Manila.

“Together, now, we are doing real operations,” he said.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/91407/us-military-godsend-to-yolanda-victims

Intel Cop Shot Dead; Soldier Shot in Clash

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Nov 18): Intel Cop Shot Dead; Soldier Shot in Clash

Police authorities in Negros Occidental are still trying to establish the identify of suspects who shot dead a policeman while on board his motorcycle 2PM Saturday along the highway in Brgy. Palampas, San Carlos City.

SPO1 Agustilo Hulleza Jr., a member of the Toboso Police Station was shot by motorcycle-riding suspects.

He was in the back and the bullet went through his chest.

Cops are not discounting the angle it was related to the victim’s work as an intelligence officer.

Hulleza was pronounced dead by attending physician at San Carlos City Doctor’s Hospital.

An encounter, meanwhile between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) operatives was reported about at 9:30AM, Saturday at the area of Brgy. Magballo in Kabankalan City.

Twenty alleged members of the group reportedly encountered the Scout Platoon led by 2Lt. John Raymund A. Inguillo, of the Philippine Army.

Corporal Jovel Senieres was reported wounded in action after he sustained a gunshot wound on the right leg, while undetermined number on the side of the NPA’s.

Operating troops are still scouring the encounter site and look for those who were possibly wounded by the incident and coordinated with members of the Philippine National Police for the availability of Scene of the Crime Operatives assistance, while further investigation is underway.

http://www.ndb-online.com/111813/local-news/local-news-intel-cop-shot-dead-soldier-shot-clash

China ships seen near Japan islands

From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 17): China ships seen near Japan islands

Four Chinese coastguard ships sailed through disputed waters off Tokyo-controlled islands in the East China Sea Saturday, officials said, as Japan continued a massive drill aimed at bolstering defence of its remote islands.

The vessels entered 12-nautical-mile territorial waters at about 9:25 am (0025 GMT) off one of the Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus, the Japan Coast Guard said.

They left the 12-nautical-mile zone about two hours later, the coastguard said.

Nine days ago, four Chinese coastguard ships were also spotted sailing through the waters, according to the Japanese coastguard.

China’s state-owned ships and aircraft have approached the Senkakus on and off to demonstrate its territorial claims, especially after Japan nationalised some of the islands in September last year.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/11/17/china-ships-seen-near-japan-islands/

Three marines hurt in Sulu explosion

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): Three marines hurt in Sulu explosion

Three soldiers of the Philippine Marines were wounded in a grenade explosion Sunday morning in Jolo, Sulu, Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of the Sulu Special Task Force, said.

He identified the wounded as technical Sergeant Amdo Elorpe, Sgt. Joel Salomon and Private First Class Aramil Arcoy.

The victims have sustained shrapnel wound from the exploded fragmentation grenade and were rushed to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.

“They’re in good condition already,” Cenabre said.

The incident happened at around 10:25 a.m. in the vicinity of Balete Crossing along Scott Road.

“Our soldiers were about to depart on board a military Elf truck after purchasing lumber when one of the two men onboard a speeding motorcycle threw a grenade on the truck,” Cenabre said.

He said investigation was ongoing to identify the suspects.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/11/18/three-marines-hurt-in-sulu-explosion-/

13 countries send troops to help in Yolanda rehab

From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 18): 13 countries send troops to help in Yolanda rehab

At LEAST 13 countries have sent troops to the Philippines to help Filipinos affected by super typhoon Yolanda rebuild their lives, armed forces officials said on Sunday.

Troops from Japan, United States, Indonesia, Korea and Australia have been involved in relief operations in the Central Visayas region in the past few days, said a senior official, who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak on the issue.

“We expect to arrive soon more soldiers from Canada, Israel, Taiwan, Thailand, China, India, Norway and New Zealand,” the official said.

The deployment of soldiers from other countries was a response to logistical nightmare faced by the Philippine government after the super typhoon devastated large areas in the Visayas region on November 8. Days after the typhoon had left, thousands of people in many areas remained isolated.

The United States, a major Philippine ally, mobilized its III Marine Expeditionary Force to lead its humanitarian activities in the country. It set up a command center at Camp Aguinaldo under Marine Corps Commander Lt. Gen. John Wissler.

Officials said the US sent the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and four destroyers to help in the transport of food, bottled water and relief goods to the Visayan provinces.

The Tacloban airport has become operational and capable of landing C-17 transport aircraft delivering bulk supplies and heavy equipment coming from different countries, the official said.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/11/18/13-countries-send-troops-to-help-in-yolanda-rehab-/

Delay in Bangsamoro law seen

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 17): Delay in Bangsamoro law seen

Delay in the negotiations for a durable and comprehensive peace in Mindanao is hampering the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), now on its 16th year of peace process with the Philippine government (GPH), made this observation on Sunday.

The editorial on the MILF website (Luwaran.com) cited the pressure that is mounting as the peace process drags on and that the BTC was “hard pressed.”

It said the BTC was tasked to craft the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) designed to govern a new political entity called the Bangsamoro.

“Aware of its historic responsibility, the BTC had started to work as early as April last year. But it cannot fully discharge its task unless the parties sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),” the MILF said.

A source told the Manila Bulletin on November 17 that the MILF peace panel has been scheduled to leave anytime this week for the 41st Round of Formal Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

GPH and MILF negotiators led by Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Mohagher Iqbal, respectively, are expected to again try to hammer out remaining kinks hampering agreements on the Annex on Power Sharing and the Annex on Normalization.

The two panels already signed this year the Annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities and Annex on Wealth Sharing/Revenue Generation.

Once all annexes have been signed, they will be bundled with the Oct. 15, 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) to form the much-awaited CPA.

The MILF stressed that it “cannot accept a bad agreement, because a bad agreement is worse than no agreement at all. More seriously, the MILF leadership cannot force the Bangsamoro people and their leaders to swallow a bad agreement.”

Meanwhile, the Moro group also shared responsibility for the length of the peace process, saying “if the current negotiation takes too long to finish, one reason is that the MILF wants to be sure that any agreement with the government will really solve the Bangsamoro Question.”

http://www.mb.com.ph/delay-in-bangsamoro-law-seen/

Aid missions boost US troops’ image, readiness

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): Aid missions boost US troops’ image, readiness

ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (AP) — As soon as Navy pilot Matthew Stafford puts his helicopter down in the village of Borongan, he is rushed by dozens of local men who form a line to unload the supplies and water he has flown in from the mothership, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. Children swarm him as he breaks out a box of sweets.

On the Philippine islands of Leyte and Samar that were shattered by Typhoon Haiyan, there is no doubt about it: the U.S. military has been a godsend. “It is awesome to see this,” says one grateful villager. “They are saving us.”

But while U.S. military support can be critical when disasters like Haiyan strike, staging massive humanitarian relief missions for allies in need isn’t just about being a good neighbor. They can be a strategic and publicity goldmine for U.S. troops whose presence in Asia isn’t always portrayed in such a favorable light — and a powerful warning to countries that aren’t on board.

“These disasters are not unique only to the Philippines. It will send a signal to all of Southeast Asia, to Asia, that the U.S. is serious about its presence here,” said Philippine political analyst Ramon Casiple. “It’s easy to translate this capability for disaster handling into handling warfare. This is the new orientation of the task forces.”

From the military perspective, humanitarian missions like the ongoing Operation Damayan in the Philippines offer concrete benefits — the chance to operate in far-flung places, build military-to-military alliances and get realistic training — that they may later apply to their primary mission, which will always be fighting and winning wars.

“Crisis response planning is a skillset for the military, so when you have an opportunity to execute crisis response it’s good for your planning team,” said Rear Adm. Mark C. Montgomery, who commands the George Washington strike group, stationed offshore in the Gulf of Leyte. “So, sure, there is a benefit there. But in reality the reason we do this mission is because in the Navy’s list of missions this is one of the significant efforts we plan for.”

In the week since the disaster, the Philippines has started to receive support from military forces around the region. Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan have sent aircraft or personnel and more support is expected soon from Brunei, Great Britain, New Zealand and Thailand.

But none has come close to matching the U.S. Equally importantly, America’s regional rival China has not sent any military personnel, and contributed relatively tiny financial aid.

“This is being done in a big way that highlights the meager response of China — that’s the politics there. They’re saying China is not actually your friend in the region,” said Casiple.

“I’m sure China is watching and assessing,” he said. China announced Sunday it is ready to send rescue and medical teams to the Philippines, but did not say when the teams would depart.

For U.S. allies like the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand and to some extent Indonesia, it is an affirmation of the U.S. commitment. For others — Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar who are more closely aligned with China — he said the mission is a not-so-subtle message that the U.S remains the biggest power in the region.

Within hours of the typhoon, U.S. Marines were on their way from their bases in Japan to assess the damage and plan out their response. Within days, the George Washington was pulling out of Hong Kong to lead its half-dozen ship battle group to the Gulf of Leyte. By the time they arrived, the U.S. Air Force was already in action.

According to the Marines, U.S. military aircraft have put in nearly 480 flight hours in 186 aircraft sorties, moved nearly 1,200 relief workers into the devastated city of Tacloban and have airlifted nearly 2,900 displaced people from the affected areas. On Saturday alone, they delivered more than 118 tons of food, water and shelter items to Tacloban, Borongan and Guiuan — some of the hardest-hit regions.

More than 600 U.S. military personnel are currently ashore in the Philippines. The USS George Washington strike group adds another 6,200 sailors supporting air operations, and 1,000 Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are expected to arrive later this week.

“Getting to help people is actually the primary thing that we signed up to do,” Toby Pickens, a Navy rescue diver, said after helping off-lift supplies during several hours of helicopter operations from the George Washington. “It’s not so much the combat that we are looking for … Compared to anything else we do, I would say that this is by far the tops.”

U.S. military public affairs offices, meanwhile, have been pushing out a torrent of photos, text updates, videos and media packages to play up that message of friendship and support.

Col. Miguel Okol, a spokesman for the Philippine Air Force, said that while he is grateful to the U.S. assistance, he is also keenly aware that this is a military operation, with military implications.

He noted that by working together on humanitarian missions, U.S. and Filipino soldiers are in effect conducting joint military exercises, such as while operating C-130 transport planes. The U.S. has deployed 15 of them in the Philippines, which has three of its own.

“No country buys these kind of transports” purely for humanitarian purposes, he said as he watched two C-130 transport aircraft, one from each country, unload supplies at Villamor Air Base in Manila.

“Together, now, we are doing real operations,” he said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/aid-missions-boost-us-troops-image-readiness/

Villagers mob U.S. aid choppers as Philippine relief effort spreads

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): Villagers mob U.S. aid choppers as Philippine relief effort spreads



A Philippine Air Force personnel officer (R) tries to push away survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan from the moving rotor of a helicopter, as its crew deploys aid into a remote area some 25km (17 miles) west of Tacloban cityNovember 17, 2013. The Philippine and U.S. Air Forces are flying rice, clothes and drinking water into remote areas of the central Philippines, which are unreachable by vehicles. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Mobbed by hungry villagers, U.S. military helicopters dropped desperately needed aid into remote areas of the typhoon-ravaged central Philippines, as survivors of the disaster flocked to ruined churches on Sunday to pray for their uncertain future.

The Philippines is facing up to an enormous rebuilding task from Typhoon Haiyan, which killed at least 3,974 people and left 1,186 missing, with many isolated communities yet to receive significant aid despite a massive international relief effort.

Philippine authorities and international aid agencies face a mounting humanitarian crisis, with the number of people displaced by the catastrophe estimated at 4 million, up from 900,000 late last week.

President Benigno Aquino, caught off guard by the scale of the disaster and criticized by some for the sometimes chaotic response, visited affected areas on Sunday. Not for the first time, he sought to deflect blame for the problems onto local authorities whose preparations he said had fallen short.

In Guiuan, a hard-hit coastal town in eastern Samar province, he praised the city mayor for conducting a proper evacuation that had limited deaths to less than 100, saying that was a contrast to other towns.

“In other places, I prefer not to talk about it. As your president, I am not allowed to get angry even if I am already upset. I’ll just suffer through it with an acidic stomach,” said Aquino. “Until I am satisfied with what I am seeing, I will stay here for a while.”

While aid packages have begun to reach more remote areas, much of it carried by helicopters brought by the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, the United Nations said people were still going hungry in some mountainous provinces. It said information about several provinces in the west of the Visayas region remained “limited”, with 60 percent of people in towns in the northeast part of Capiz province needing food support.

“I remain concerned about the health and well-being of the millions of men, women and children who are still in desperate need,” U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said in a statement.

The risk of skin and respiratory diseases and diarrhoea was very high, with hospital and health centers badly damaged.

“It’s raining a lot so everything is wet. The quality of the water is not sufficient,” Jean Pletinckx, head of Medecins Sans Frontieres’ Haiyan response, told Reuters.

“In Guiuan, the city is completely destroyed. There’s nothing left. Everything is broken. The hospital is completely flat.”

U.S. AID REACHES REMOTE AREAS

In Cabungaan, a village in the interior of Leyte province’s Tanauan district – where as many as 1,200 died – the arrival of a U.S. Seahawk helicopter on Sunday was the first outside help since Haiyan made landfall.

With children in the lead, scores of villagers ran from jury-rigged shanties to greet the helicopter as it settled in a flattened patch of grass. Locals jostled for a view, beaming and yelling “Thank you! Thank you!” as two crew members rushed out aid marked “from the American people.”

For the past week, the village’s 200-plus residents had been living on one meal a day of “dried fish, sometimes coconuts, not enough rice,” said Richel Maballo, 19. Too far from the shore to be hit by the surge of water that devastated the regional capital Tacloban city, the village suffered no deaths.

Back in the air, a member of the aircraft’s crew, Jeremy Smith, scribbled in a notebook: “That LZ (landing zone) was tame compared to others where the aircrafts have been mobbed.”

The international community has sent or pledged a total of $248 million (10.6 billion pesos) to help 10 million people affected by Haiyan, said the Philippine foreign ministry.

The United States has about 50 ships and aircraft operating in the area, including 10 C130 planes, 12 V-22 Ospreys, Sea Hawk helicopters operating from USS George Washington.

Japan has sent three ships with trucks and engineering equipment, while Thailand,Indonesia and Singapore have sent C130 planes to help deliver relief supplies.

Aquino said he was not satisfied with the slow pace of aid distribution and called for more efficient loading and unloading of relief packs from ports in Luzon and for the urgent restoration of power and communications.

The government estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture at about 10 billion pesos ($230 million), the bulk of it in the farming sector.

The United Nations warned the economic and human costs could rise if aid did not reach farmers in rice-growing regions in time for the next planting season in December and January. It also said that fishing, another crucial food source, had been placed in jeopardy by the storm.

“The destruction of boats, fishing gear, fish ponds and related equipment left many families with no means of livelihood and decreased protein intake,” the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

PRAYING FOR A FUTURE

In Tacloban, church-goers in the deeply religious Roman Catholic-majority country knelt in prayer in the shells of ruined churches.

At Santo Niño Church near the waterfront, Rosario Capidos, 55, sat crying in one row, hugging her nine-year-old grandson.

Capidos had been sheltering at home with nine other members of her family when Haiyan struck on November 8. As the waters rose, she floated her three grandchildren on a slab of styrofoam through a road flooded with debris and shipping containers to a nearby Chinese temple. Her family survived.

“That’s why I’m crying,” she said. “I thank God I was given a second chance to live.”

In Hong Kong, thousands of Filipinos, many domestic helpers on their one day off work, rallied on Sunday in parks, churches and streets to raise aid donations and pray for their loved ones at home.

“We cannot concentrate on our work, especially when we talk to them and they complain that they are so hungry,” said a helper named Fatima whose daughter had been involved in a fight for instant noodles in an evacuation centre near Boracay.

Tearful Filipinos lined church pews in Hong Kong in a string of masses, while others packed boxes of relief supplies to be whisked away by courier firms offering their services for free.

“We are here physically, but in our hearts we are with the people in the Philippines,” said Elvera Podador.

http://www.mb.com.ph/lagers-mob-u-s-aid-choppers-as-philippine-relief-effort-spreads/

P47.2B shortage in vets pension funds noted

From Malaya (Nov 18): P47.2B shortage in vets pension funds noted

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines-Retirement and Separations Benefits System (AFP-RSBS) is short by P47.291 billion for the retirement and pension benefits of its members, the Commission on Audit said in its report released last Nov. 14.

 

COA said total assets of the AFP-RSBS as of December 31, 2012 stood at P14.339 billion – far short of its actuarial reserve requirement of P61.63 billion.

 

“Actuarial reserves are the funds that must be set up to ensure payment of the benefits as and when these fall due. It is also a measure of the System’s fund sufficiency to finance payment of benefits on a continuous basis. An indication of how much resources may be required to fulfill said obligations,” auditors pointed out.

 

However, with a deficiency of P47.291 billion, COA said the capacity of AFP-RSBS to meet the funding requirements of AFP personnel who are leaving the service and other maturing obligations has been put at risk.

 

The pension fund started operations in 1976 and was authorized to invest in revenue generating activities including fund management for stock market investments, money market ventures, corporate loans, real estate development and equity holdings in subsidiaries.

 

COA said rather than set up an actuarial reserve, the Controllership Department instead created its own system of estimating current liability (to be paid during the year) and the non-current portion based on records of contribution earnings.

 

 “To compute for the amount to be set up as membership contributions payable, they get the total disbursements made in the immediate prior year, get the average, then multiplied by 13 months,” auditors said.

 

However, in the absence of data on how many AFP personnel are due for retirement for the following year, the estimates mostly fall short and adjustments are simply made at anytime during the year. 

 

COA said the poor funding condition of AFP-RSBS was discovered after the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) submitted the results of its study that it started in 2010 upon the request of the Secretary of National Defense on orders of President Aquino.

 

GSIS clarified that the computations were based on 2010 figures including survivorship payments and pension benefits.

 

The study was meant to determine the funding requirement for a proposed legislative measure to be known as “An Act Creating the Philippine Military Pension System, Instituting Reforms in the Retirement Benefits System of the AFP and for other Purposes.”

 

Other than building up actuarial reserves to ensure continuity of the AFP-RSBS, COA stressed the need for a review of the agency’s investments and asset disposal policies to maximize revenue generation to fund obligations for its members.

 

Past officials of the AFP-RSBS have been indicted for graft before the Sandiganbayan for alleged fraudulent use of agency’s funds through overpricing of land acquisition in real estate projects in Batangas and Laguna involving billions of pesos.

 

Many of the said cases are pending in anti-graft court for over a decade. 

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/p472b-shortage-vets-pension-funds-noted

Video: Pinoy members of US Navy back to help in relief ops

From ABS-CBN (Nov 17): Video: Mga Pinoy sa US Navy, nasa bansa para tumulong sa relief ops (Pinoy members of US Navy back to help in relief ops)



Marami sa mga miyembro ng US Navy na tumutulong sa mga taga-Leyte ay mga dugong Pinoy. Kilalanin ang ilan sa kanila sa pagpa-Patrol ni Chiara Zambrano. TV Patrol, Nobyembre 17, 2013, Linggo

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/global-filipino/11/17/13/pinoy-members-us-navy-back-help-relief-ops

NZ Air Force evacuates 'Yolanda' survivors

From ABS-CBN: NZ Air Force evacuates 'Yolanda' survivors


A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) cargo aircraft arrived in the country Saturday and evacuated around 240 survivors of typhoon 'Yolanda', as part of New Zealand's humanitarian mission in the Philippines.

The RNZAF's C-130 Hercules also delivered around 30 tons of rice, canned goods, water, emergency shelter, field hospital equipment and toilets to the typhoon-struck cities of Tacloban and Ormoc, and the town of Guiuan.

“We are supporting the international effort to get aid into the worst-hit areas, where there is a huge humanitarian need for food, water and shelter,” said Squadron Leader Steve Thornley, commander of the 24-member 40 Squadron detachment that has been deployed by the New Zealand Defence Force.

The group also helped evacuate survivors to Cebu, one of the few cities in the region that escaped the devastation brought by the typhoon.

The RNZAF C-130, which arrived in Cebu on Friday, has joined a multinational fleet of military aircraft that are helping distribute food, water and emergency shelter to the survivors stranded in remote locations in the Philippines.

“We will try to reach other hard-hit areas in coming days,” according to Squadron Leader Thornley.

Squadron Leader James Anderson said they will fly to Darwin Sunday to pick up another four tons of disaster relief goods donated by the New Zealand government, private sector and non-government organisations.

“We are doing as much as we can in coordination with the Philippine military. It’s great to be part of this multinational effort to help the Philippines and have the opportunity to make a difference. It’s very rewarding to be able to wave the Kiwi flag,” he said.

Thousands of survivors were queuing at the damaged airports of Tacloban, Ormoc, and Guiuan when the RNZAF aircraft arrived on Saturday.

At Ormoc, survivors ran towards the aircraft as soon as they were informed that they could board.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/17/13/nz-air-force-evacuates-yolanda-survivors

Villagers mob US aid choppers as Yolanda relief effort spreads

From GMA News (Nov17): Villagers mob US aid choppers as Yolanda relief effort spreads

Mobbed by hungry villagers, US military helicopters dropped desperately needed aid into remote areas of the typhoon-ravaged central Philippines, as survivors of the disaster flocked to ruined churches on Sunday to pray for their uncertain future.

The Philippines is facing up to an enormous rebuilding task from Typhoon Yolanda, which killed at least 3,681 people and left 1,186 missing, with many isolated communities yet to receive significant aid despite a massive international relief effort.

Philippine authorities and international aid agencies face a mounting humanitarian crisis, with the number of people displaced by the catastrophe estimated at 4 million, up from 900,000 late last week.

President Benigno Aquino, caught off guard by the scale of the disaster and criticized by some for the sometimes chaotic response, visited affected areas on Sunday. Not for the first time, he sought to deflect blame for the problems onto local authorities whose preparations he said had fallen short.

In Guiuan, a hard-hit coastal town in eastern Samar province, he praised the city mayor for conducting a proper evacuation that had limited deaths to less than 100, saying that was a contrast to other towns.

"In other places, I prefer not to talk about it. As your president, I am not allowed to get angry even if I am already upset. I'll just suffer through it with an acidic stomach."

While aid packages have begun to reach more remote areas, much of it carried by helicopters brought by the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, the United Nations said people were still going hungry in some mountainous provinces. It said information about several provinces in the west of the Visayas region remained "limited," with 60 percent of people in towns in the northeast part of Capiz province needing food support.

"I remain concerned about the health and well-being of the millions of men, women and children who are still in desperate need," U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said in a statement.

US aid reaches remote areas

In Cabungaan, a village in the interior of Leyte province's Tanauan district—where as many as 1,200 died—the arrival of a US Seahawk helicopter on Sunday was the first outside help since Yolanda made landfall.

With children in the lead, scores of villagers ran from jury-rigged shanties to greet the helicopter as it settled in a flattened patch of grass. Locals jostled for a view, beaming and yelling "Thank you! Thank you!" as two crew members rushed out aid marked "from the American people."

For the past week, the village's 200-plus residents had been living on one meal a day of "dried fish, sometimes coconuts, not enough rice," said Richel Maballo, 19. Too far from the shore to be hit by the surge of water that devastated the regional capital Tacloban city, the village suffered no deaths.

Back in the air, a member of the aircraft's crew, Jeremy Smith, scribbled in a notebook: "That LZ [landing zone] was tame compared to others where the aircrafts have been mobbed."

The government estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture at about P10 billion ($230 million), the bulk of it in the farming sector. The United Nations warned that economic and human costs could rise if aid did not reach farmers in rice-growing regions in time for the next planting season in December and January.

It also said that fishing, another crucial food source, had been placed in jeopardy by the storm.

"The destruction of boats, fishing gear, fish ponds and related equipment left many families with no means of livelihood and decreased protein intake," the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

In Tacloban, church-goers in the deeply religious Roman Catholic-majority country knelt in prayer in the shells of ruined churches.

At Santo Niño Church near the waterfront, Rosario Capidos, 55, sat crying in one row, hugging her nine-year-old grandson.

Capidos had been sheltering at home with nine other members of her family when Yolanda struck on Nov. 8. As the waters rose, she floated her three grandchildren on a slab of styrofoam through a road flooded with debris and shipping containers to a nearby Chinese temple. Her family survived.

"That's why I'm crying," she said. "I thank God I was given a second chance to live."

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/335870/news/nation/villagers-mob-us-aid-choppers-as-yolanda-relief-effort-spreads

Irregularities mar DND biddings for planes, vests

From the Manila Times (Nov 17): Irregularities mar DND biddings for planes, vests

As the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) prepares to acquire new planes for its search and rescue operations and armor vests to protect its soldiers, questions have been raised in the conduct of separate biddings for these items costing billions of pesos.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo already signed a bid bulletin and the deadline for submission of bids is on November 29 at 10 a.m. with tenders to be opened that day.

The three brand new search and rescue seaplanes, worth P2.67 billion, are geared to be used in humanitarian assistance, disaster response and maritime search and rescue missions in areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and others to come.

Bidding irregularities

 However, DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is already being urged to investigate irregularities in the failed recent bidding and subsequent re-bidding of the P5.3-billion medium lift fixed wing aircraft acquisition project of the agency.

Three bidders attended the pre-bid conference and indicated willingness to participate in the bidding in October. They were Alenia Aermacchi, EADS Casa Air Bus Military and PT Dikrgantara Indonesia/Indonesian Aerospace (IAe/Persero).

But the DND bids and awards committee (BAC) admitted that it failed to comply with the legal requirement of publishing the supplemental bid bulletin seven-days prior to the bid opening. It declared the bidding a failure on November 11.

The BAC said that because of the problems raised it had to wait for half an hour after the scheduled closing time before allowing other bidders to come in.

The extra time given by the BAC to other bidders raised concerns as it failed to post the supplemental bid bulletin seven days before the bid opening date.

The DND published the supplemental bid bulletin at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website only on November 5 (instead of November 4 to make it to the required seven days under the law).

At the November 11 failed bidding only two bidders showed up and only one submitted a sealed bid while the other raised the matter to the BAC, which later admitted its mistake and ordered a correction through the immediate publication of the supplemental bid bulletin and opening of the bids on November 18 at 2 p.m.

The aircraft to be bought is capable of operating in any environment and organic general support for territorial defense, internal peace and security operations and disaster response.

Armor vests

 Another bidding for 44,080 pieces of armor vests worth P1.763 billion was rejected by DND because the products did not meet the required technical specifications.

But bidder Kolon Global Corp., a Korean firm, disputed the findings of the technical working group of the BAC claiming that the force protection equipment it is offering is responsive to the requirement of the DND and had been approved by a third party picked by the government, an accredited ballistics testing facility of the US National Institute of Justice.

“We then offered the best price for the value-for-money force protection equipment, that could have saved the government almost P1 billion,” said Kolon’s president, Byung Duk Ahn in his letter to the BAC.

“With our unexpected disqualification, the Philippine government will be spending approximately P400 million, assuming it accepts the second lowest bid,” he added.

On November 11 the BAC rejected through a post qualification the P800- million bid of Kolon, or P400 million less than the tender of UM Merkata DOO, the second lowest bidder which the BAC entertained even it could finally resolve Kolon’s bid, particularly the BAC’s mandated motion for reconsideration.

Army Col. George Cabreros admitted during the deliberations on November 11 that the government would be losing P357.99 million if it would accept the second lowest bid.

Cabreros said the amount could be used in buying an additional 18, 000 sets of force protection equipment.

Cabreros said the bid of Kolon was lower at P894.095 million from the original price set by the DND of P1.763.2 billion.

Col. Joselito Reyes, a regular member of the BAC, then moved that the committee consider the bid of the second lowest bidder, which was concurred in by lawyer Cherrie Belmonte-Lim, the acting chairperson of the BAC during the hearing.

Director Nestor Castro, another member of the BAC, told Reyes and Belmonte that they should follow the procurement rules by allowing the Korean company to file its appeal, if it so wishes, under the legally allowed period.

Castro insisted that the rules should be followed before the committee entertains the second bidder being pushed by Reyes and Lim.

This prompted the BAC to give Kolon three days to file an appeal. The company said in its letter to BAC that it would ask for reconsideration of BAC’s decision.

“We pray for the Philippines, which needs a well-equipped Filipino soldier, that the wisdom and sensibility of our investment will be recognized,” he said.

“During this distressed times, every centavo saved counts. The Filipino soldier, brave as he maybe, will benefit the most from this saving,” he added.

The DND has lined up 138 projects worth P70 billion over the next five years for its modernization program for armaments and defense equipment.

http://manilatimes.net/irregularities-mar-dnd-biddings-for-planes-vests/53740/

BRP Bacolod City to transport another set of Tacloban evacuees

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 17): BRP Bacolod City to transport another set of Tacloban evacuees

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Sunday announced that the BRP Bacolod City (LC-550), which is now unloading relief supplies in Tacloban City, will transport "Yolanda" evacuees to Cebu once her relief mission is over.

Unloading operations as of this posting is 60 percent done.

Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic, Navy spokesperson, declined to comment on the exact figure but said they will ferry as many people as they can.

"That's her next mission, to ferry evacuees from Tacloban to Cebu. As long as the ship can accommodate them, the BRP Bacolod City will do her best to help them," he added.

Earlier, BRP Bacolod City's sister-ship, the BRP Dagupan City (LC-551), carried 2,493 evacuees to Cebu City where they will be sheltered in government-operated evacuation centers.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=587592

2 US warships now off Ormoc, helping in relief works

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 17): 2 US warships now off Ormoc, helping in relief works

Two US warships, the USS Charles Drew and the USS Mustin, have arrived off Ormoc City and helping Philippine government rescuers in the ongoing relief operations in the locality.

The ships arrived in the area early Sunday.

Their crewmen are now distributing water, food, blankets and other relief items to "Yolanda"-displaced residents in Ormoc City.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=587645

AFP hopeful NPAs will heed ceasefire request

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 17): AFP hopeful NPAs will heed ceasefire request

With the rest of the country into relief and search work for the victims of Supertyphoon "Yolanda", the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday expressed hope that the New People's Army (NPA) will comply with the ceasefire request being sought by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs office chief, is hoping that the rebels will heed this request so that relief works can proceed unhindered by the NPAs.

As this develops, he added that 81-truck convoy, mostly military vehicles, carrying relief goods is now proceeding to Tacloban City to help in the ongoing relief efforts there.

Zagala also said that engineering brigades of the AFP are now hard at work, clearing road ways and highways, in "Yolanda" battered provinces.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=587641

Army engineers hard at work clearing 'Yolanda' blocked roads - AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 17): Army engineers hard at work clearing 'Yolanda' blocked roads - AFP
 
Army engineers have been busy clearing roads and building shelters in the hardest hit areas of Supertyphoon "Yolanda", the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said.

Last Nov. 12, Engineering Task Force (ETF) "Yolanda" was mobilized and deployed to Tacloban, Leyte.

ETF "Yolanda" is composed of the 51st Engineering Brigade based in Camp Atienza, Manila and the 53rd Engineering Brigade in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City.

Each brigade is made up of two engineering construction Battalions who are specially trained for constructing infrastructure and clearing obstacles.

Their priority missions in Tacloban City are:

-to build shelter for the personnel currently performing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations (HADR)

-to clear roadnets to allow the smooth passage of relief and personnel

-to assist in the installation/operation of a water purification system in Tacloban

-to create/repair necessary infrastructure that was destroyed by calamity.

The officer-in-charge of ETF "Yolanda" is Col. Medardo F. Clarito of the Army Engineers.

On Day 9 (Nov. 16), ETF "Yolanda" was instrumental in opening up the road to two-lane traffic and providing high-speed road access to the Municipality of Tanauan in Southern Leyte from Tacloban.

Working nonstop for four days, Army engineers cleared debris and fallen trees blocking the road.

Armed with chainsaws and heavy equipment like backhoe loaders, they worked tirelessly to open up the road.

With their efforts, the town of Tanauan was reached by military trucks carrying additional aid and relief for the survivors.

Likewise, the 3rd Infantry Division in Panay Island mobilized the 61st Infantry Battalion and the 552nd Engineering Construction Battalion to clear the roadnet that connected Iloilo City to Roxas City last Nov. 9.

Both cities were identified as logistics hubs that will house relief goods and will serve as the nerve centers of the Office of the Civil Defense for Region 6.

The 61st Infantry Battalion armed only with bolos and axes chopped away at the fallen trees that blocked the Calinog-Tapaz road.

Engineers used their heavy equipment to move fallen electrical posts and other debris along Duenas and Passi City in Iloilo entering Capiz province.

It took them two days to clear the roads which allowed military trucks to continuously deliver relief items to communities in Capiz.

Opening up the roads between Tanauan and Tacloban as well as the Iloilo-Capiz roadnet are small victories for our engineers in the Visayas.

But there are still other tasks that they need to accomplish and their sense of urgency motivates them to rise up to the challenge.

There are still other roads that need to be cleared, bridges repaired, shelters and water systems put in place.

We can count on our engineers to do what they do best; that is to help rebuild. Once we start to rebuild our communities, then we start to rebuild our broken spirit.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=587701

US Navy now in E. Visayas to assist typhoon victims

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 17): US Navy now in E. Visayas to assist typhoon victims

The 325-man team of the United States Navy are now in Eastern Visayas to extend support to various efforts of the Philippine government in responding to concerns of families affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

The team that arrived at the Ormoc City port Friday morning on board the USS Mustin assisted in the repair works of some government buildings that were destroyed by the typhoon. The team has already repaired the damaged school buildings of the Linao Elementary School here.

Commanding officer Joe Ring said that they will be extending support to the clearing operations, air traffic services and in any assistance necessary to ease the burden felt by the victims at the moment.

The navy vessel was also loaded with goods, an aid coming from the US government. The items have to be airlifted from the ship to the warehouse at the city astrodome.

Meantime, Rig admired the city employees of the city government and civilian volunteers who inspite the situation have still managed to have a happy disposition.

“Everybody works here to serve the others even if they are typhoon victims themselves,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=587661