442 UN volunteers join relief operations
by: FRANCO G. REGALA
(Source: Manila Bulletin News Online – 10/25/09)

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — More than 400 United Nations (UN) volunteers have joined the RP's "Operation Sagip Bayan" on its campaign to help the twin typhoon victims in Metro Manila, Central and Northern Luzon, it was learned Sunday.

The RP's "Operation Sagip Bayan" were initiated by Malacañang officials composed of 442 UN humanitarian volunteers together with 285 Filipino volunteers from different schools, government and non-government agencies, and private individuals who rendered free service in repacking relief goods, it was said by Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Saturday.

The PMS officials said it will continue to invite volunteers from different local governments personnel, schools and private and public institutions to sustain our government relief operations to the displaced families due to typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng recently. On the other hand, the data gathered on Oct. 23 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said some P666,101 worth of donations in kind were received for Sagip Bayan, of which P164,226 came from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Ports Authority, and the Commission on Higher Education.

Another P501,875 worth of rice were purchased by the Office of the President for distribution to the typhoon victims under Sagip Bayan.

There were 12 deliveries Saturday, reaching out 12,738 family-beneficiaries in various ravaged areas in Luzon.

Meanwhile, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Benigno Ricafort together with the Rotary Club of Pampanga, Non-Government-Organization (NGO) held the relief operations in floods-stricken areas in Pampanga, Bulacan, Pangasinan and some areas in Metro Manila.

Ricafort said about more than P300,000 assorted relief goods were already sent to the hundreds victims in Central Luzon particularly Pampanga and Bulacan during the height of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.

Likewise, the early by US government to flood victims of storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng has already reached almost $4.7 million as a specially chartered airplane arrived Sunday with assorted items worth $250,000.

According to US embassy Charge d’Affaires to the Philippines Leslie Bassett said the goods were turned over to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) operating in the country.

The planeload of donations consisted of soap, hygiene kits containing laundry and toiletry supplies, and plastic water containers worth about P12 million Pesos or $250,000.

"This assistance is provided in coordination with the Philippine government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)," the US embassy said.

The donations that arrived last week, were on top of the $4 million that USAID provided in grants to various relief organizations and a previous donation of relief supplies worth $400,000 to the Philippine National Red Cross.

This, even as the Philippine military, specifically the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) headed by Major General Ricardo David Jr. said it has been coordinating with US troopers from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade under Brig. Gen. Mark Andrew Brilakis in continuing relief operations in devastated areas in North Luzon.

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