Relief goods reach survivors; no more ‘looting’ a week after

Relief goods reach survivors; no more ‘looting’ a week after

Johanitter International sent a 14-man medical team and six tons of medical supplies. PRworks Inc. helped facilitate passage from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to the Port of Ormoc in Leyte.
Johanitter International sent a 14-man medical team and six tons of medical supplies. PRworks Inc. helped facilitate passage from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to the Port of Ormoc in Leyte.

Globe Telecom restores cellular communications in Yolanda badly-hit areas

We are sharing with you assessments of different outfits that should provide us with an objective perspective a week after super typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan, carved a wide path of destruction in central Philippines.

Citing the Government’s most recent estimates, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Philippines said “between 9 to 13 million people have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) across nine regions. About 18 per cent (2.3 million people) of the total affected population is concentrated in Eastern, Western and Central Visayas regions. The number of displaced people increased to 3 million. Over 70 per cent are displaced in six adjacent provinces. About 375,000 people received food assistance. Logistical
support is needed to extend the food distribution to mountain areas.”

Scroll down the full Nov. 16 report of OCHA below to read more:

Peace and Order

Rappler reported that policemen were themselves typhoon victims. Only 10 percent of Tacloban City’s police force of 352 stuck to their posts. As of Nov. 14, the initial list of missing police personnel in the calamity areas reached 983.

Tacloban and Cebu businessmen meet members of the Cebu media. PRworks Inc. helped facilitate the conduct of the press conference.
Tacloban and Cebu businessmen meet members of the Cebu media. PRworks Inc. helped facilitate the conduct of the press conference.

A week after Yolanda however, it appears that looting has already been contained with the arrival of police and military reinforcements. News reports said, the police deployment had swelled to around 1,200 on Friday, with reinforcements flown in from Manila.”We’re still very alert to the security situation, but our focus is switching from crime prevention to supporting the relief effort,” said according to Wilben Mayor, Philippine National Police spokesman told the Agence France Press. A strict dusk-to-dawn curfew has been in force in Tacloban since Monday night.

Tacloban traders who earlier fled to Cebu and Manila said they are willing to go back and help out in relief and rehabilitation efforts once government has restored peace and order.

Globe Telecom

Meanwhile, Tina Antonio of the Globe Social Media Team said Tacloban is no longer isolated with one cell site serving critical communication requirements of the local government units and agencies involved in disaster response and coordination efforts. The temporary site was put up near Hotel Alejandro along Paterno St. in Tacloban City.

Restoration efforts are being accelerated in the Visayas region with the assistance of government units like the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy by providing transport requirements for heavy network equipment to critical sites.

John Rey Saavedra is an editor of The Freeman in Cebu.
John Rey Saavedra, an editor of The Freeman in Cebu, is grateful for Globe Telecom’s reliable signal at the height of super typhoon Yolanda..

In its latest update, Globe Telecom has further expanded its cellular coverage in Visayas region to 80% as restoration efforts continue to be at accelerated pace.

Globe has so far restored 90% of its network in Cebu and Bohol, 97% in Negros Occidental, 97% in Negros Oriental, 90% in Leyte 75% in Northern Samar and 76% in Iloilo, 60% in Antique.

In Leyte and Panay islands, Globe continued to restore additional cell sites, further expanding its cellular service in the islands, which were severely affected by the recent super-typhoon.

Cellular service in Leyte island now covers the municipalities of Kananga, Matag-ob after establishing earlier mobile connection in Bato, Hilongos, Inopacan, Matalom and Santa Fe and the cities of Baybay, Ormoc and Tacloban, all in in Leyte province. In Southern Leyte, municipalities with cellular service include Bontoc, Hinundayan, Libagon, Lilo-an, Macrohon, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, San Francisco, San Juan, Silago, Sogod and in Tomas Oppus.

Meanwhile, Globe cellular services in Samar islandnow cover Calbayog City, Catbalogan City as well as the towns of Diabong, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Santa Rita, Villareal and Zumarraga all in Western Samar as well as the municipalities of Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, Pambujan, and Victoria, all in Northern Samar.

Globe advisory2In Panay, Globe also continued to restore cell sites, enabling the company to provide cellular service in the municipalities of Altavas, Banga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Malinao, Numancia, Tangalan, Nabas and Malay, including the tourist destination of Boracay, all in Aklan and the areas of Ivisan, Tapaz and Roxas City in Capiz.

In Iloilo, Globe also continued to expand its mobile services which now covers the following municipalities; Alimodian, Badiangan, Barolac Nuevo, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Passi City, Concepcion, Duenas, Dumangas, Guimbal, Igbaras, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Lemery, Leon, Maasin, Miagao, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, Pototan, San Dionisio, San Enrique, San Joaquin, San Miguel, San Rafael, Santa Barbara, Sara, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Zarraga and Iloilo City. In Antique, the company’s coverage now include the municipalities of Anini-y, Barbaza, Belison, Bugasong, Hamtic, Patnongon, San Jose, San Remigio, Sibalom and Tobias Fornier.

Globe Telecom also mobilized Libreng Tawag stations in three sites in Iloilo: 1) OWWA Office 3F Robinson Mall; 2) Western Visayas Cyberlink Inc. HUB Shoppers Avenue; 3) Globe Telecom JM Basa St. In addition, Libreng Charging stations have been set up where generator sets serving the Globe cell sites are used to charge mobile phones to help residents in the area with no commercial power.

Balay Mindanaw

As this developed, the non-government organization from Cagayan de Oro Balay Mindanaw reported that three towns near Ormoc City — Merida, Curva, and Linao — experienced extreme damage but have yet to receive relief assistance.

Balay Mindanaw, which sent a relief team to Ormoc City right after Yolanda struck, reported that some businesses have reopened in Ormoc City. Wifi is present and the team is able to open websites, browse, and submit reports.

According to the relief team’s report dated Nov. 15, 2013, “the Robinsons Mall has opened but with a controlled number of people going in.  ATMs and gasoline stations have opened though with long lines of people queuing. However, lodging houses and hotels are only receiving guests with purposes or missions related to typhoon Yolanda. Public accommodations are still unavailable.

Though there is access to water,there is overwhelming need for food, especially for rice.

Students at the Talisay Malayan Academy help repack goods that will be sent to Ormoc City.
Students at the Talisay Malayan Academy help repack goods that will be sent to Ormoc City.

PRworks Inc. is now helping Balay Mindanaw mobilize the shipment of additional relief packs from Cebu with the help of 2GO Travel and students of the Talisay Malayan Academy.

As this developed, Johanitter International sent a medical team and six tons of medical supplies from Germany last week. PRworks Inc. helped facilitate the Johanitter team with accommodations and transport from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to the Cebu City port area on their way to Ormoc City.

The medical team later linked up with Balay Mindanaw that has already established a local network.

Related stories

NGO, 2GO link up to facilitate relief distribution

Long road ahead for Haiyan-hit businesses (Rappler.com)

Balay Mindanaw November 16 report (www.balaymindanaw.org)

Please don’t send your old shoes to the Philippines (www.slate.com)

PHOTOS

With Johanitter International

Balay Mindanaw relief goods sourced from Cebu City. Thanks to OPASCOR volunteers for helping load the goods to a 2GO ship bound for Ormoc.

PRworksPH team

PRWorksPH Content Team is now composed of Emmanuel Mongaya, Alya Simone Mongaya, Patricia Quiachon, and Raphaella Bautista.

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