Wednesday, June 25, 2008 US vows aid to typhoon victims
THE United States government has pledged P4 million or around US$100,000 worth of relief goods to the Philippines, which they would send through the Philippine National Red Cross for the victims of typhoon Frank (Fengshen).
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte also expressed the sympathy of President George W. Bush to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during their meeting Monday morning (Monday night in Manila).
"We are deeply grateful for the help by the US government," Arroyo said in thanking the US government for the support that they are extending to the typhoon victims, including the sending of US Navy Ship Stockham to Sibuyan Island in Romblon Province where MV Princess of the Stars sank to help in the search and rescue operations of the victims of the sea mishap.
Negroponte said Bush would personally convey his "condolences to the Filipino people" during his meeting with Arroyo, adding that the assistance may even be increased.
"We want to express our condolences to the government of the Philippines and the people, particularly those who have been affected by the tragedy. Our hearts go out to the government and people of the Philippines, particularly the victims of this terrible tragedy which has just occurred," he added.
About P4.39 billion worth of infrastructures and agricultural productions were damaged following the onslaught of the typhoon severely damaging the agricultural products at Panay Island.
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) executive director Glenn Rabonza said damage in infrastructure was pegged at P770 million, excluding the damage to elementary and high school buildings worth P212 million, while damage in agricultural production was estimated at P3.3 billion.
The NDCC figure excludes the P110 million worth of commercial fishing vessels lost in Capiz.
Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras said of P3.3 billion, about P2.994 billion covers fisheries and crops lost at Panay Island. "So hardest hit is Region VI (Western Visayas Region)," he said citing that P794 million of which are lost crops and P2.2 billion worth of fisheries.
Records of the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed that a total of P670 million worth of rice or around 32,000 metric tons (MTs) of rice were damaged, of which 31,500 MTs or P608 million are from Panay Island.
A total of 14,000 MTs of corn amounting to P165 million, and 19,000 MTs of high valued crop amounting to P194 million were also lost. Majority of the high value corps are from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Bicol region.
Paras assured that despite this, the lost rice only accounts for 0.96 percent of the total rice production for the months of July, August and September, while the damage corn accounts for only 0.56 percent of the targeted production.
He said of the damage in fisheries, "Panay has (also) been hard hit in terms of fisheries amounting to P2.2 billion with 25,000 MTs of bangus lost and 5,000 MTs of shrimps and prawns."
He said they are also still waiting for a report on damages to livestock mostly due to the flooding, but based on initial information hardest hit were backyard swine producers.
Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said damages to roads and bridges amount to P750 million, while Education Secretary Jesli Lapus reported that the damages to 351 public schools cost P212 million. (JMR/Sunnex)
