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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.

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.

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.

In 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.

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.