AMBASSADOR GAA ENCOURAGES FILIPINOS IN THE UNITED STATES TO EXTEND RELIEF
ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF TYPHOON ONDOY
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Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa today encouraged the Filipino community in the United
States to extend relief assistance to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy that brought havoc to Metro Manila and its
neighboring provinces in Northern Luzon.
“I encourage members of the Filipino community in the United States to extend their support to the flood-stricken
victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Let this moment be a time of giving, solidarity and oneness for our people and a
chance to manifest the Filipinos’ resiliency in the face of calamity,” Ambassador Gaa said in a statement.
Donations to typhoon victims can be coursed through the National Disaster Coordinating Center (NDCC),
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine National Red Cross. Additional
information can be accessed through the Philippine Embassy website at www.philippineembassy-usa.org.
Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) brought unprecedented flooding in the nation’s capital and its
adjacent areas, Saturday, 26 September. According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA), Quezon City received its highest rainfall of 455 millimeters in 24 hours,
almost equivalent to a month’s worth of rain. 86,313 families or more than 430,000 Filipinos were affected by
the storm. According to the latest reports of NDCC, 7,908 persons were rescued in the conduct of its relief
operations, while 86 people were found dead and 32 still missing. Metro Manila including the 25 storm hit
provinces of Northern Luzon remain in a “state of calamity.” END
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AMBASSADOR GAA CONGRATULATES SUNCASTV FOR RECOGNITION IN THE 2009
NATIONAL MEDIA AWARD
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Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa congratulated SuncasTV for winning the 2009 National
Media Award sponsored by the Minority Business Development Agency of the United States Department of
Commerce.
“I wish to extend my congratulations to SuncasTV for their recognition in the 2009 National Media Award,”
Ambassador Gaa said. “This is another example of Filipino-American excellence in the global arena.”
Sunny Leon, President and CEO of SuncasTV accepted an invitation to a White House reception last August 26
where he had a brief meeting with United States Vice President Joe Biden and United States Commerce
Secretary Gary Locke. An Awards Gala followed on August 28 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
where the award was formally presented.
Founded in 2006, SuncasTV is an Internet Protocol Television service company offering media related content
through online streaming on the web (www.suncastv.com) or a conventional television using a set-top box
technology that is broadcasted with the aid of a high-speed Internet connection. With primary target audience in
the United States, SuncasTV provides programming from China, Korea, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Thailand and Japan as well as an English channel. END
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RP gets immediate assistance from international community
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The Philippine government has received assistance from the international community in its efforts to provide
assistance to people affected by typhoon Ondoy that wreaked havoc in Metro Manila and other provinces.
In a meeting at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo today, Defense
Secretary Gilbert Teodoro briefed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice President Noli De Castro, and
members of the Cabinet that the United States Government has donated $50,000 and provided one helicopter
and rubber boats for the rescue mission.
“Our US allies assured us that they will coordinate with us in our efforts,” Teodoro said.
The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has also donated food and non-food items worth to P15.3 million.
The President thanked the international allies for their immediate support to the rescue mission of the
Philippine government at the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy.
At the briefing Teodoro stressed that NDCC has already centralized the donation point for the victims of the
typhoon. He identified three centers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development where people can
make their donations : the National Relief Operations Center, which is located between the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) 1 and 2 near the Air Transport Office in Pasay City; the Central Office of DSWD right
across the Batasan road; and the National Capital Region (NCRF) Crisis Intervention Unit in Legarda, Manila.
No donations will be accepted in Camp Aguinaldo, which has already run out storage space.
At the same briefing, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the Light Rail Transit
(LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) have been put on a 24 hour operations and are implementing a flat rate P10
fare.
Teodoro also informed President Arroyo that he has declared the suspension of classes at all levels at the NCR
and Rizal province Monday (Sept. 28). He, however, leaves it to the local government units (LGUs) and
superintendents of schools in other disaster areas covered by the state of calamity to declare suspension of
classes in their respective communities and schools.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) likewise
apprised the President that Quezon City received the highest rainfall of 455 millimeters in 24 hours due to
typhoon Ondoy.
PAGASA said typhoon Ondoy has already left the Philippine area of responsibility, but warned that a cloud
clusters in the Pacific could develop into a low pressure area under the potential of becoming another storm.
The Chief Executive ordered her Cabinet to prepare and monitor the situation.
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Malacañang becomes relief center for "Ondoy" victims
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On instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Malacanang became the center of operation for various
government agencies and volunteer organizations that extend relief assistant to victims of tropical storm “Ondoy.”
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said even the members of the First Family are prepared to temporarily leave
the Palace grounds if needed to give space to the relief work.
He said the President is expected to call heads of government agencies in a meeting within the day.
According to Remonde, the Oplan Sagip Bayan has been mobilized to work with media agencies, civic groups,
and other organizations involved in the operation.
As of noon Monday [Sept. 28], the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said 86 people died while 32
others were reported missing after the storm hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The NDCC report said the Armed Forces has dispatched M35 trucks to haul relief goods for distribution in
Marikina City.
Also, 15 personnel from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Fire Department and SWAT (IED) augmented
rescue operations in the flooded
areas in Metro Manila. They brought along rescue van, one rubber boat, and two dump trucks.
A US contingent composed of one officer and 17 enlisted men with night capability equipment on two rubber
boats and a chopper rescued six persons from Ever Gotesco, Cainta, and distributed two hundred packs of
assorted goods to affected families.
The following is a rundown of the NDCC report.
Breakdown of casualties:
86 dead
* NCR - 7 (3 in Muntinlupa, 2 in NIA Road, QC, 1 Marikina City, 1 in Brgy. Bato, San Juan)
* CAR - 1 (Kabugao, Apayao)
* Region III - 22 (10 in Bulacan and 12 in Arayat, Pampanga)
* Region IV-A - 56 (1 in Calaca, Batangas, 1 in Calauag Quezon; 23 in Tanay, Rizal; 10 in Angono; 5 in Baras; 3
in Montalban; 2 in Cavite; 5 in Laguna; and 1 in Theresa and 5 military personnel)
32 missing
1 in Kabayan, Benguet; 20 in Tanay, Rizal; 9 in Infante, Pangasinan and 2 in Arayat, Pampanga
5 injured
1 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; 1 in Cavite; and 3 in Kabayan, Benguet
* Affected Population: 86, 313 families / 435, 646 people
* Partial total of Evacuees: 23, 126 families / 115,898 people in 204 evacuation centers
Cost of damage: Total P60.5M (infrastructure - P41M; schools P19. M and agriculture - P0.212 M)
Total number of persons rescued: 7,908
No. of assets deployed:
* 12 ambulances
* 33 M35 trucks
* 59 rubber boats
* 112 other vehicles
* 6 officers
* 5 companies
* 137 enlisted personnel
* 13 platoons
* 20 US servicemen
* 2 US watercraft
* 1 US chopper
* 8 island vessels
Advanced Command Posts (ACP) around Metro Manila
* Katipunan Avenue corner Aurora Blvd. Overall commander: Mayor Marides Fernando; Incident Commanders:
Robert Nacianceno and Ramon Santiago of MMDA, Tel Nos: 0917 322 1951 and 0920 938 9914
* Alpha Base 8th floor, Pasig City Hall, Overall commander: Mayor Roberto Eusebio Tel No: 643 0000
* Club house, City Hall of Cainta City Overall commander: Mayor Ramon Ilagan Tel Nos: 0927 220 4744 and
665 0846
* Department of Public Order, Safety Hall, QC Overall commander: Mayor Sonny Belmonte Incident Commander:
Teresa Amarillo
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