Newest British destroyer deployed to remote typhoon-hit areas

From the Philippine Star (Nov 19): Newest British destroyer deployed to remote typhoon-hit areas



British destroyer HMS Daring set sail from Exercise Bersama Lima to the Philippines as part of the British government's humanitarian response to Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Wikimedia Commons

 The latest air-defense destroyer of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy arrived in the country as an addition to the British contingent assisting in relief mission to victims of super-typhoon Yolanda.

The HMS Daring, delivered relief goods  to 200 families living in three barangays of Guintakan Island in devastated Sta. Fe town in Cebu on Monday night as its first mission.

Commander Angus Essenhigh, its captain, said that the warship's "flexibility" allows it to reach remote coastal communities flattened by the severe weather event.

"Overnight, we'll sail out to the worst of affected areas to hopefully start distributing relief that is so urgently needed in the islands," Essenhigh said in a CNN interview on Monday.

"The outlying islands have not been visited yet and that's part of what we're doing," he added.

Essenhigh said that the Type 45 destroyer is also out on a reconnaissance mission to scout for areas that have not yet received sufficient aid.

"[We are] passing that information back to the UK channels to inform the wider government or the NGOs active as to where we could prioritize," the Navy official said.

The UK has also sent an airplane carrying 95 tons of emergency aid.

Earlier, a 12-strong medical team from the UK has been deployed to various areas to treat typhoon victims.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/11/19/1258476/newest-british-destroyer-deployed-remote-typhoon-hit-areas

4 bombs found in former war-torn Zambo villages

From the Philippine Star (Nov 19): 4 bombs found in former war-torn Zambo villages

Four bombs believed left behind during a standoff between members of the government security forces and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were found by evacuees as they returned to their villages on Thursday.

Explosives experts from the city police recovered three 40-mm rifle grenades and a projectile of a 90-mm shoulder-fired rocket in Sitio Ayer in Barangay Sta. Barbara and Sitio Fishpond in Rio Hondo, according to city police director Senior Superintendent Dennis Basngi.

The two areas were among the five villages devastated in the three-week firefight between the military and the rebels.     

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/11/19/1258201/4-bombs-found-former-war-torn-zambo-villages

Army contingents from CDO, Davao reach Baybay City in Leyte

From MindaNews (Nov 18): Army contingents from CDO, Davao reach Baybay City in Leyte
The two Army contingents that left Cagayan de Oro and Davao cities last weekend have reached typhoon-devastated Baybay City in Leyte on Sunday.

Col. Julian Pacatan Jr., commander of Task Force Diamond, said that although they found Baybay City devastated by super typhoon Yolanda, the “situation among the residents has stabilized” after relief goods have reached them earlier Saturday. Pacatan described the devastation they saw as the Army contingents wind its way to Baybay City.

“We saw abandoned houses, felled coconut trees and downed electric poles along the highway but the situation has stabilized. The residents are no longer hungry,” he said.
Pacatan noted that plenty of food aid reached the city from Tacloban last Saturday.

He also said that communication in the city “has been restored,” with Globe Telecom running its system by generator, which forces shutdown several times a day.

Task Force Diamond left Cagayan de Oro Friday while Task Force Aguila left Davao City Saturday. Both contingents consisting of soldiers, doctors and engineers are veteran responders of typhoons Sendong and Pablo in Mindanao.

Pacatan said their contingent has already cleaned a school building and is presently repairing a hospital damaged by typhoon Yolanda.

He said their heavy equipment are clearing the roads of downed electric poles, trees and other debris.

“I never saw so much destruction but I was told that Tacloban was much worse than Baybay,” Pacatan told MindaNews by phone.

Pacatan said the four ferryboats that carried their convoy and other relief trucks used the two ports of Liloan and San Ricardo in Leyte from Lipata, Surigao del Norte.

As of Sunday, the Lipata port in Surigao City experienced congestion as hundreds of trucks carrying relief goods used it as jump-off point to the typhoon devastated areas in the Visayas.

Meanwhile, Araceli Solamillo, Department of Social Welfare and Development director for Region 10, said they received instruction from their national office to stop repacking food relief items after food aid from the United Nations and other countries started arriving in typhoon-affected areas.

The repacking centers at the Mt. Carmel Church in Barangay Carmen and DSWD regional office along Masterson Avenue this city grounded to a halt Sunday night.

“There is so much food packs in Leyte already. We are starting to reassess the other needs of the victims,” Solamillo said.

Solamillo said they are thinking of buying personal hygiene kits for women and kitchen utensils, which were popular items during typhoon Sendong, she said.

She said the DSWD regional office has spent P17 million, sent by the national government, to buy relief goods such as sardines, noodles and rice.

At one point last Friday, the DSWD has found it difficult to find suppliers of relief goods.

Solamillo said the volunteers who responded to the call of the DSWD managed to pack some 78,000 food packs since Tuesday.

“The volunteers did a wonderful job. Our first shipment was among the first to arrive in Tacloban and feed its hungry residents,” Solamillo said.

Volunteers from all walks of life, including typhoon Sendong victims, trooped to the DSWD relief centers and pack the food bags by hand.

Solamillo said they still have 15,000 relief bags awaiting shipment this week.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2013/11/18/army-contingents-from-cdo-davao-reach-baybay-city-in-leyte/

CPP: CPP condemns AFP for relentless offensives in Negros and elsewhere amidst devastation and NPA ceasefire

From the CPP Website (Nov 18): CPP condemns AFP for relentless offensives in Negros and elsewhere amidst devastation and NPA ceasefire

Communist Party of the Philippines

 

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemns the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for waging relentless offensives against the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Visayas amidst the widespread devastation caused by the recent supertyphoon Yolanda and the ceasefire declaration issued by the CPP to the concerned NPA units.

News reports state that the AFP offensives resulted in at least two successive armed encounters last Saturday between a unit of the NPA and the fascist troops of the 47th IB at around 9:30 am in Sitio Pating, Barangay Magbalyo, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental. According to the commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, the AFP has been carrying out offensive maneuvers in Kabankalan for two weeks now.

“It is apparent that the AFP leadership is completely oblivious to the state of calamity and difficulties being experienced by the people of Negros,” said the CPP.

The Negros Island is among the worst hit areas during the November 8 typhoon. In Negros Occidental, record-strong winds destroyed nearly 25,000 homes in Negros Occidental and resulted in widespread damages to crops, livestock and fisheries resources initially estimated at P100 million.

NPA units in Negros, including those which figured in an armed encounter with units of the 47th IB, have gone on active defense mode in order to extend assistance to calamity victims. This is in line with the ceasefire declaration issued earlier by the CPP last November 14.

The CPP ceasefire declaration, which covers NPA units in typhoon-hit regions including those in Negros Island, will remain in effect until 2359 hours of November 24. The declaration directs concerned units of the NPA to concentrate on the immediate task of assisting the typhoon victims to carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts while cautioning Red fighters against hostile movements of the APP within the territory of the people’s democratic government.

The Aquino regime has yet to issue a parallel declaration. “It is apparent that the Aquino regime does not want to reciprocate the CPP’s issuance of a ceasefire declaration because it does not want the AFP to cease its offensives against the NPA in the vain hope of meeting the targets of its Oplan Bayanihan war of suppression against the people.”

“The continuing offensives being carried out by the AFP underscore the Aquino regime’s mispriorities and criminal ineptness in preparing for and confronting the effects of the recent supertyphoon,” said the CPP. The CPP pointed out that the AFP also carried out offensives in Sorsogon province a mere four days after typhoon Yolanda.

“The AFP is also busy spreading false information claiming of armed actions by the NPA within or near disaster areas in order to justify increasing its deployment of troops to carry out surveillance, suppression and offensive operations against the people and their mass organizations,” added the CPP.

“Aquino’s failure to declare a ceasefire furthermore exposes the hypocrisy of his regime’s call for national unity,” added the CPP. “Aquino’s call for unity is a desperate effort to cover-up its criminal incompetence and gross failure to prepare for the supertyphoon and mobilize emergency relief which has resulted in unnecessarily large number of deaths and injuries.”

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20131118_cpp-condemns-afp-for-relentless-offensives-in-negros-and-elsewhere-amidst-devastation-and-npa-ceasefire

Flow of vehicles using Matnog port eases as Navy deploys vessels

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 18): Flow of vehicles using Matnog port eases as Navy deploys vessels

The flow of traffic of vehicles transporting relief goods and passengers from various parts of Luzon to Leyte and Samar provinces in eastern Visayas through the port Matnog in Sorsogon to the Allen port in northern Samar has eased up with the deployment of Philippine Navy ships.

The Navy, through its Naval Forces Southern Luzon, has deployed BRP Dagupan City (LC 551), a logistics support vessel, and BRP Tagbanua (AT 296), a landing craft utility vessel, from Cebu City to Matnog port to help decongest the number of stranded rescuers, relief operations, military troops and humanitarian mission caravan bound for Leyte and Samar.

Commodore Manuel Abinuman, Navforsol commander, said the AT 296 left Matnog port at 2:10 a.m. Monday bound for Allen port with 80 tons of cargo -- consisting of four M35 trucks, one Elf truck, one pick-up and two sports utility vehicles – and 19 civilians and 30 military passengers.

Abinuman said another four more Philippine Navy Auxiliary Reserve Unit (PNARU) vessels manned by naval reservists are expected to arrive Monday to augment the decongestion operation by helping ferry those stranded to the two provinces.

The Navy has also commissioned MV Maria Natasia, another PNARU vessel, and has already transported relief goods, military troops, disaster responders and trucks from Matnog port.

The augmentation of PN vessels is solely for relief and disaster response purposes, Abinuman clarified.

Thus, priorities will be personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, government line agencies and local government units.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=587906

PN transports additional 1,366 Tacloban evacuees to Cebu Monday

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 18): PN transports additional 1,366 Tacloban evacuees to Cebu Monday

The evacuees were landed at Commodore Veloso Pier in Naval Base Rafael Ramos, Mactan at 11 a.m.

They were welcomed by Naval Forces Central deputy commander, Capt. Ingemar S. Pernes and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

“I can hardly look at the tragic effect of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban and other parts of Leyte but I felt happy and proud to be part of the Navy’s team that is committed to support the victims in the modest way we can,” said BRP Bacolod City commanding officer Cmdr. Jonathan V. Zata said.

Upon disembarkation from the ship, the evacuees were welcomed by various local government and private agencies and organizations giving free services to uplift their morale and bringing back their condition to normal.

GMA Kapuso Foundation, ABS-CBN Cebu and Gardenia Bakeries Phils, Inc. provided hot meals, bread and bottled water to the evacuees with the assistance from Department of Social Welfare and Development, Lapu-Lapu Sangguniang Kabataan, Tau Gamma Fraternity and Barangay Gon-ob.

Free medical services and medicines were rendered to the evacuees through the combined efforts of Red Cross, Lapu-Lapu Hospital, City Health Office and Barangay Basak. Free calling services were provided by Globe, Smart and Sun telecommunication companies.

Even the PN provided free call and internet services to the evacuees

More than 5,000 evacuees and rescue and relief personnel have been transported by the PN Navy to and from Leyte and Samar since the disaster response operations started last week.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=587957

Relief aid now reaching all areas in Visayas battered by 'Yolanda'-- AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 18): Relief aid now reaching all areas in Visayas battered by 'Yolanda'-- AFP

Relief supplies have reached all communities in the Visayas Region battered by Supertyphoon "Yolanda", Central Command head Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda said on Monday.

'I believed (rescue workers) have reached and supplied all the affected communities with the basic goods. And if there are still areas that are unserved by our rescue and relief workers, please tell us immediately so we can respond," he added.

Deveraturda added that the now swift response of relief forces can be attributed to the now functioning roads, highways, seaports and airports which were earlier cleared by military and civilian units.

He added that the devastated areas are now slowly coming back to life with the arrival of mobile ATMs, water, power and electricity.

Likewise, food and other basic supplies are now being brought back thanks to the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Deveraturda added that the military and police, through the deployment of additional personnel, have also brought law and order back in the super typhoon battered communities.

He stressed that these law enforcement units also ensured orderliness in the distribution of relief goods.

With these concrete achievements now in the offing, Deveraturda expressed hope that the rehabilitation work will proceed more smoothly.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=588026

USAID to provide additional USD10M for 'Yolanda' relief efforts

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 18): USAID to provide additional USD10M for 'Yolanda' relief efforts

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Monday announced that the American government is providing an additional USD10 million in humanitarian aid for the victims of Supertyphoon "Yolanda".

This was confirmed by USAID assistant administrator Nancy E. Lindborg.

This brings the total US humanitarian aid to more than USD37 million.

This new contribution will help restore clean water in and around Tacloban and will provide additional support for the massive logistics operation dispatching and distributing relief supplies to those in need.

“The devastation left in the wake of the typhoon is truly staggering. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods,” Lindborg added.

“This additional USD10 million from the United States will allow much-needed relief supplies to reach to hard-hit areas and ensure that 200,000 people in and around Tacloban have clean running water.”

In support of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’ relief effort, the United States is providing airlift and logistics capacity, food aid, shelter materials, clean water, and hygiene education and supplies to help the estimated nine million people across 44 provinces in the Philippines that have been affected by "Yolanda".

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=587980

British destroyer joins in relief efforts for 'Yolanda' victims

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 18): British destroyer joins in relief efforts for 'Yolanda' victims

The HMS Daring, the latest air-defense destroyer of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, joined in the multi-national force providing help to the victims of Supertyphoon "Yolanda" by airlifting relief goods to 200 families living in three barangays of Guintakan Island in Sta. Fe, Cebu Monday.

The British ship’s crew composed of the executive officer, medical team, engineers and communications team were joined by the representative of the Save the Children Foundation and the liaison officer of the Philippine Navy Multinational Coordinating Council, Cmdr. Oscar Faeldon, during the distribution of relief in the said island.

Aside from giving relief goods consisting of high-energy biscuits, canned goods and shelter kits, the group also provided medical services with medicines to 200 individuals.

They also repaired the barangay hall of Agdan using roofing materials derived from the ravaged facilities of the island.

Guintakan Island is among the areas in Northern Cebu directly hit by Supertyphoon "Yolanda".

With no means of communication, the residents of the island used the debris of the disaster and formed the word “HELP” in an open ground hoping that a passing aircraft will notice it.

Luckily, a helicopter of HMS Daring which flew by the island sighted the call for help of the residents.

After verification, the Royal Navy ship sought permission from the Philippine Navy for the conduct of relief operations in the said island.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=588068

Naval Task Group 'Tulong Visayas' now in Tacloban City

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 19): Naval Task Group 'Tulong Visayas' now in Tacloban City

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday announced that its Naval Task Group 'Tulong Visayas, a 160-strong contingent, has arrived in Tacloban City Monday morning to boost the ongoing relief efforts in the "Yolanda" battered area.

Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said the contingent consists of 20 officers and 140 enlisted men.

These personnel come from the Philippine Marine Corps, Naval Combat Engineering Brigade, Naval Communications Electronic and Information System and the Manila Naval Hospital.

Fabic said that these men are equipped with one payloader, two M-35 trucks, two dump trucks, one forklift, one backhoe loader, one tractor head, one low-bed trailer, one fuel cell, one welding machine, three squad tents, one generator, one trailer and one ambulance.

The deployment of the unit is in-line with the national government's effort to rehabilitate Tacloban City and bring back basic services to its residents, the PN spokesperson said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=588167

Non-commissioned officers training on counseling, coaching and mentoring

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 19): Non-commissioned officers training on counseling, coaching and mentoring

Realizing the vital role of the non-commissioned officers (NCOs) as the backbone of the military, the Philippine Army (PA) has launched a program for their basic training on counseling, coaching and mentoring.

These skills are essential in the molding of new soldiers under their wing, Army deputy public affairs office chief Capt. Anthony Bacus said. He added that the program is being handled by the PA's Technical Working Group of the NCO Counseling, Coaching and Mentoring System (TWG-NCOCCMS). As of this posting, NCOs of two units, the 6th and the 4th Infantry Divisions, are now undergoing the said training.  One of the primary thrusts of PA chief Lt. Gen. Noel A. Coballes is to strengthen the NCO Corps by fully empowering and encouraging them to take participative roles.  He further emphasized the need for professional development of NCOs by allowing them to learn, seek, absorb, and accept responsibility in order to achieve and ensure mission accomplishment. Guided by this tenet, Col. Rene Glen O. Paje, Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, OG1, Philippine Army, crafted a proposed policy on the NCO Counseling, Coaching and Mentoring System.

Under this policy, NCOs holding leadership positions in a certain unit or office shall be appointed as counselors, coaches and mentors of their respective subordinates.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=588155

Airlift extends lifeline to remote Yolanda survivors

From Rappler (Nov 18): Airlift extends lifeline to remote Yolanda survivors



AID FROM THE AIR. Members of the Philippine Air Force Sokol 550th Search and Rescue Group drop sacks of food relief in eastern Samar province, Philippines, 17 November 2013. EPA/Dennis Sabangan

HOMONHON, Philippines – Helicopters dropped emergency supplies to desperate villagers as a growing global relief effort following the Philippines typhoon pushed beyond devastated towns and cities Monday towards remote island and mountain communities.

On the tiny island of Homonhon, which suffered a direct hit from Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), residents of what was left of their shattered village waited patiently as US troops unloaded water supplies from a helicopter that flew in off the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.

The approach to the village offered an aerial view of the destruction visited on the island, where thick coconut groves had been torn up and flattened.

The helicopter stayed just 10 minutes before flying off with promises to return with rice supplies.

The USS George Washington has galvanized the huge international relief effort in the central Philippines, since its arrival in the region on Thursday, November 14.

Its main task has been airlifting large-volume supplies to inland airstrips and then ferrying them piecemeal by helicopter to more remote areas.

In many villages, there is no space to land, and the helicopters are forced to hover low and drop the cartons to residents straining to remain standing against the downdraft from the rotor blades.

Television footage has shown residents of one isolated settlement jostling each other as supplies were pushed from the chopper, setting off a frenzied scramble as villagers tore apart the packing and scurried away with the contents.

Improving, but still critical

Ten days after the super storm hit the central islands of Leyte and Samar with some of the strongest winds ever recorded, aid agencies and humanitarian groups have firmly established operational posts in the flattened region's largest city Tacloban.

There is still no regular power in Tacloban, where the typhoon triggered a powerful, tsunami-like storm surge that left thousands dead and tens of thousands homeless.

But aid distribution centers have been set up, ensuring a steady flow of food and water supplies to still-traumatized residents, while mobile surgical units are providing emergency care for the sick and injured.

Some petrol stations are open and enterprising individuals were selling fuel in Coke bottles by the side of the roads that have been largely cleared of debris, as cars and motorbikes made a tentative return to the streets.

Fresh fruit is available for a price, with makeshift stalls selling satsumas, apples and bananas.

But the overall situation remains critical, with the United Nations estimating that up to four million people have been displaced, of which only 350,000 have found shelter in evacuation centers.

The official death toll stands at 3,976 with 1,598 people missing.

The UN said an estimated 2.5 million people are in need of food assistance, and that priority should be given to ensuring supplies of rice seed for the crucial December-January planting season.

'Patience'

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had started distributing aid to residents of Guiuan, Mercedes and Salcedo – shoreline communities in southeastern Samar that were laid to waste by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

"This is only the start," said Pascal Mauchle, head of the ICRC delegation in the Philippines. "Our next plan is to reach people in Homonhon and Suluan – small isolated islands near Guiuan – by boat."

President Benigno Aquino III, who has come in for some criticism over the speed of the initial response to the disaster, toured the worst-hit areas on Sunday, November 17, and said he would stay in the region to oversee the relief operation.

Stressing the logistical challenge of accessing so many badly affected people spread out over such an enormous area, Aquino appealed for "patience" and vowed to accelerate the distribution where possible.

Emy Esperas Edanol, a 44-year-old fruit seller, welcomed the president's decision to make his temporary base in the area.

"I hope that his presence here will speed up the relief," Edanol said, as she made her way to Tacloban city hall to ask for a death certificate for her father, who was killed in the storm surge.

Although the situation in Tacloban has markedly improved in the past three days, daily life is still a grinding struggle among the grim ruins of the once thriving coastal city.

An Agence France-Presse journalist saw one man salvaging wood to rebuild his shack as three bloated bodies – two of them children – lay nearby.

"Please can you tell the authorities to come and pick these up?" he begged.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/43990-airlift-remote-yolanda-survivors

Aquino promotes 12 Army generals, including one linked to Morong 43 arrest

From InterAksyon (Nov 18): Aquino promotes 12 Army generals, including one linked to Morong 43 arrest



Major General Aurelio Baladad is implicated in the illegal arrest of the so-called Morong 43

President Benigno Aquino III has promoted at least 12 Army generals, including the division commander implicated in the illegal arrest of the so-called Morong 43, health workers who were allegedly members of the New People’s Army (NPA), in February 2010 in Morong, Rizal.

Acting Army spokesman Capt. Anthony Bacus said Army Chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes on Monday led the donning of ranks of the senior officers during the flag-raising ceremony at the Army’s headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Leading the newly promoted were Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sandigan Class 1982 and current commander of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz, and Maj. Gen. Jet Velarmino (PMA ’82), current commander of the 8th ID based in Samar.

Baladad was implicated in the arrest of the 43 community medical personnel who the military claimed were rebels attending a bomb-making seminar at a farm during their arrest.

Also promoted to major general is Hernando Iriberri (PMA Matikas ’83) and current commander of the 7th ID based in Nueva Ecija.

Promoted to brigadier generals or one-star are:

• Gerardo Barrientos, Assistant Division Commander of the 4th ID
• Richard Lagrana, Commander of the 902nd Brigade, 9th ID
• Alex Capiña, Commander of the 201st Brigade, 2nd ID
• Ricardo Jalad, Assistant Division Commander of the 5th ID
• Vic Castro, Commander of the 702nd Brigade, 7th ID
• Ivan Samarita, Commander of the 202nd Brigade, 2nd ID
• Edmundo Pangilinan, Commander of the 601st Brigade, 6th ID
• Donato San Juan, Commander of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), Special Operations Command
• Roger Salvador, Commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade, 5th ID

“The Army leadership recognizes that the able leadership of every commander is an indispensable factor in carrying out the Army’s mission,” Coballes said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/75075/aquino-promotes-12-army-generals-including-one-linked-to-morong-43-arrest

Japan sends first major deployment of relief troops to Philippines

From InterAksyon (Nov 18): Japan sends first major deployment of relief troops to Philippines

Japan on Monday dispatched two warships, carrying some 650 troops, to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines in the first major contingent of the military's largest overseas aid deployment.

The two vessels, also carrying six helicopters, left the western port of Kure and are scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on Friday, said a defence ministry spokesman.

He added that Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are sending a total of 10 planes Monday to the disaster-struck nation -- seven C-130 transport planes, two KC-767 tanker planes and one U-4 multi-purpose support aircraft.

The troops' duties will include providing medical support and transporting relief goods.

An advance team of about 50 SDF personnel was sent last week while the total troop deployment was expected to rise to almost 1,200 in all.

But the timeline for sending the remainder of the troops was not immediately clear.

It is the first time Japanese troops have been active in Leyte -- an area hit hard by Super Typhoon Haiyan -- since the island turned into one of the biggest battlegrounds of World War II when US forces counter-invaded in 1944.

The 1,180-strong contingent will be the largest single relief operation team ever sent abroad by Japan's defence forces.

Previous overseas missions by the SDF, which adheres to the country's post-war pacifist constitution, have usually numbered in the hundreds.

The previous record was 925 personnel sent in 2005 to Sumatra after the Indonesian island was ravaged by a massive earthquake-triggered tsunami.

Other deployments have included UN peace-keeping missions in Cambodia and East Timor as well as logistical activities in Iraq and naval refuelling operations in the Indian Ocean to back the US military in Afghanistan.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/75093/japan-sends-first-major-deployment-of-relief-troops-to-philippines

US pledges add'l $10M for Yolanda victims

From GMA News (Nov 18): US pledges add'l $10M for Yolanda victims

The United States will donate an additional $10 million in humanitarian aid for the thousands left starving and homeless by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which lashed central Philippines on November 8.

In a statement Monday, Nancy E. Lindborg of the US' Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance said more than $37 million have been provided for the victims.

The additional contribution will help restore clean water in Tacloban City, the hardest hit area of the typhoon, and will provide additional support for the massive logistics operation dispatching and distributing relief supplies.

“The devastation left in the wake of the typhoon is truly staggering,” said Lindborg after completing an aerial assessment of the affected areas. “Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.”

She said the additional $10 million “will allow much-needed relief supplies to reach to hard-hit areas and ensure that 200,000 people in and around Tacloban have clean running water.”

The US, a close ally of the Philippines, has deployed aircraft, including two Osprey aircraft and nine C-130s, to help deliver relief goods and rescue survivors from the Visayas to Metro Manila, said Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala.

The Philippine government, meanwhile, has vowed to be transparent in handling financial assistance received from various nations and international organizations meant for the typhoon victims.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad told GMA News Online last week the Commission on Audit “will ultimately audit because those donations and grants will enter the government's books and therefore have to be accounted for.”

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Department of Foreign Affairs is in charge of coordinating all foreign assistance for the Philippines.

Meanwhile, in its 6 a.m. update on Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said damage was estimated at P10,384,690,061, including P1,295,508,600 in infrastructure and P9,089,181,461 on agriculture. A total of 288,922 houses were destroyed while 282,884 were damaged.

It said Yolanda had affected 2,212,955 families or 10,306,318 people in 10,365 villages in 44 provinces. Of these, 74,015 families or 353,862 people are staying in 1,550 evacuation centers.

The death toll remained at 3,976 with 18,175 injured and 1,598 still missing.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/335951/news/nation/us-pledges-add-l-10m-for-yolanda-victims