Alerts and information (updated)

I’ve moved my updates to a new entry. I won’t be updating How to help : please help focus attention and help update List of Places to Donate instead.

For an overview of the situation, see OndoyManila which is supported by Google and with volunteers from around the world updating it.

For relief/response see also Sahana FOSS Disaster Management System, set up by volunteers, supported by IBM, and adopted by the National Disaster Coordinating Council.They have a Sanaha Forum, please visit; and here’s the Volunteer Sheet for the Sahana Project.

There is an unofficial List of Missing Persons put up by the Ateneo de Manila.GMA News Also has a Missing Person Database.

For concerned individuals overseas, here’s how to donate if you’re abroad. Here are official Philippine government regulations on deliveries of aid/relief goods.

Follow me on Twitter for more regular updates.

10/01/09

2 PM NDCC reports as of 6am today 199,558 families comprising of 1,036,774 persons are in 726 evacuation centers.

1 PM Please inform all Filipinos overseas and International Aid Organizations who are experiencing problems with red tape with the Bureau of Customs of the President’s directives to the Department of Foreign Affairs to our posts abroad, and Customs here, to facilitate donations of goods on condition that they are consigned to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. An unofficial English translation can be found here. The ban on importing used clothing will also be lifted so long as garments are given to DSWD for fumigation/washing/distribution.

11 AM PAGASA says Typhoon Peping may reach Supertyphoon status. No change to Metro Manila weather expected over next 24 hours but f you have relatives please alert them that Typhoon Peping’s landfall expected Oct. 3. somewhere up North. Possibly Isabela or Tuguegarao or Aparri.

9 AM Aurora Province Fund Drive and Relief Operation: an initiative of concerned Aurorans.

1 AM The Philippine National Red Cross Blood Center is running out of blood packs. Contact Raina Reyes at 09177911390 for blood donations.

Updated list based on Tweets of places that need more relief goods.

9/30/09

11:22 PM Was informed some International Groups wanting to donate used clothing faced problems with Bureau of Customs, citing law forbidding importantion of used clothing. A Malacanan official tells me Customs will forfeit the ban provided the clothes are claimed by DSWD which will wash and fumigate the used clothing and then distribute it to those in need. Please advise foreign donors/groups of this official advisory.

For NGOs and other organizations engaged in rescue and relief operations, please bookmark Bayanihan Online. They are regularly collating and republishing Twitter alerts on missing persons, places needing relief/rescue, and security alerts for communities.

There is a growing need for these particular items of clothing for relief:

1. Underwear

2. Diapers

There is also a need for medicine to be donated, particularly serum for anti-tetanus treatment. PGH in dire need of expressed breastmilk. They will process donations (pasteurize, etc) and bring to evacuation centers. PGH Milkbank, 4th flr. Call 5548400 local 3409. Ask for any NICU fellow. Or call Dra. Silvestre or Lita Nery 09185557565,09185557565.

1:45 AM The President, at 9 PM issued a five-fold directive concerning issues raised over Customs imposing fees or impounding foreign donations, remittances, fraud and profiteering:

12 AM Volunteer Sheet for the Sahana Project and visit the Sahana Forum.

9/29/09

4:51 PM GMA7 News reports Angat dam releases water warns Norzagaray, Hagonoy, Calumpit, Pulilan, San Rafael, Angat, Bustos, Baliuag and Plaridel.

4:40 PM De La Salle Brothers Disaster Response: Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Unimart Business Center Peso Account No. 1-296-71477-8 US Dollar Account No. 8-296-00115-6 Swift Code: RCBC PHMM

4 PM From Emy de Lara of Ayala Corporation:

Aside from providing assistance for its own employees, BPI has created an account to accept public donations and has made a contribution through some organizations. It will manage its own efforts through BPI Foundation.


Deposits may be made to BPI Acct # 0011149022 (Ayala Foundation for Typhoon Ondoy)

Globe has pledged P1M each to ABS-CBN and GMA7, P1M to GK, and P2M worth of goods to Net25, DSWD, and direct to families in Marikina and Rizal areas. It has also set up Libreng Tawag services and hotlines plus Donate-A-Load services for Red Cross. Selected Globe Business Centers are accepting donations.

MWC is working to restore service in its concession area and estimates that 55,000 households are still without water (equivalent to approximately half a million people). It has fielded water tankers in San Mateo, Rodriguez, Pasig, parts of Taguig, and Marikina.

ALI has opened up relief goods drop areas in the malls and consolidating the goods at Building 6. Packing operations will start tomorrow. Some initial packing and delivery of goods took place Sunday night.

AFI has worked with AC  to make a call out to Ayala employees for cash donations (through an AFI) account and for donations in kind via ALI Malls and Globe Business Centers. AFI has also posted online donation buttons on its website and through myAyala is posting donation buttons on other sites. We have also sent out e-blasts to AYLC alumni network and to AF-USA network. We have recruited volunteers from among staff and friends and deployed them to ALI and Globe for packing of relief packs for victims.

We also received a call from Philippine National Red Cross to request use of a chopper to get an aerial view of the affected areas. We’ve coordinated with Ayala Aviation to run that trips.

We’ve also made a request from WWF for a five-day weather forecast which we will circulate to all concerned so we know what’s in store for us.

On a more unusual note, we have an AFI employee who is part of the Philippine Dragonboat team. When I called him Sunday to say boats were needed, he gathered 40 team-mates and arranged for the 4 dragonboats docked at Philippine Navy to be trucked to a spot in Marikina so they could launch the boats and do rescue operations. Today, they have moved those boats to Pasig to continue work. Talk about bayanihan spirit and volunteerism!

2:47 PM We are all calling on all GK HEROES!!!

In response to the massive disaster wrought by Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces, Gawad Kalinga calls on all the living everyday heroes to take part in bringing concrete hope to the affected families.

The communities need the following :

1. Within the next three to four days (Sept. 28-Oct. 1), ready-to-eat food which do not need to be cooked like boiled eggs, sandwiches, cooked rice, sardines, tuna, meatloaf, bread, margarine, peanut butter. They also need bottled water, everyday clothes (including underwear) for both adults and children. Please send mats for the families to sleep on.

2. By October 2, please prepare food packs of canned goods, rice, instant mami, instant pancit canton, bread and bottled water.

You can bring all goods to Operation GK Walang Iwanan Headquarters at RFM Gym along Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City (contact person : Raul Dizon 0917-888-8109).

You can also deliver straight to our command centers at the following areas :
1. GK Camacho, Marikina (Bodoy 0917-888-8276)
2. GK Tatalon, Quezon City (Bobby 0918-906-9075)
3. GK Brookside, Quezon City (Rabbi 0906-462-7232)
4. GK Sitio Ruby, Quezon City (Benjie 0906-286-4447)
5. GK Sitio Pajo, Quezon City (Mar 0919-208-8784)
6. GK Selecta, Cainta (Dolphy 0928-604-4632)
7. GK Caliuag, Pasig City (Ryan 0922-859-6453)
8. GK Pinagsama, Taguig City (Raul 0919-229-1416)
9. GK PBA, Pateros City (Cesar 0905-235-7929)

For your cash donations, here are the following ways to transmit :

1. Gawad Kalinga Philippine Peso Current Account 3101 0977 56 BPI EDSA Greenhills

2. Gawad Kalinga US$ Savings Account 3104 0162 34 BPI EDSA Greenhills with Swift code : BOPIPHMM

(Should you need receipts, please fax your deposit slip to : Delfin Mangona, Operation GK Walang Iwanan at 632-726-7405.  Kindly indicate name of donor and contact number.)

3. For donations outside the Philippines, you can choose from the following :

ANCOP USA
You can send your checks to ANCOP USA, PO Box 10095, Torrance, CA 90505.
Or go to www.ancopusa.org if you prefer to do it online via credit card.

AYALA FOUNDATION USA
You can issue checks payable to Ayala Foundation USA with project noted (Gawad Kalinga Ondoy Relief) and send to :

Ayala Foundation USA
255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 428
Redwood City, CA 94065
Tel. no. 1-650-598-3126
Fax No. 1-650-508-8898
Email [email protected]

or you can donate to Ayala Foundation USA via credit card by visiting http://www.af-usa.org/donate_now_form.asp.  In “choosing organization to receive the donation”, please choose “Gawad Kalinga-Community Infrastructure Program” for now. By tomorrow, September 29, Tuesday Philippine Time, you will be able to choose “Gawad Kalinga-Relief”.

DONATE ONLINE AT www.gk1world.com
Visit us at www.gk1world.com and click on “Operation GK Walang Iwanan (Click to Donate)”.  This facility can accept donations from all over the world.

Daily updates on the needs of affected communities will be posted on www.gk1world.com so we can respond quickly and appropriately.  Thank you for all your prayers and all the effort in doing as much as you can for the people in need.

Let us help rebuild and restore hope.  Walang Iwanan!

2:04 PM If you know of overpricing for meds/basic goods call the DTI hotline at 751-3330. Save receipts as evidence. I hope a blogger will set up an entry to catalog prices of basic goods/medicines as reported by people, to help the authorities monitor the situation. Prices are being affected by the devastation, by panic-buying, and even generous people buying in bulk to donate goods for relief.

12:49 PM List of impassable roads as of today. Here’s an Unofficial Database of People Still Missing.

12:37 PM Commission on Higher Education announced classes suspended at all levels, private & public schools until Saturday in NCR, other areas under state of calamity.

11:44 AM The Ondoy Manila disaster map has been massively expanded to include provinces outside Metro Manila. Help out by filling out the Map Update Form (for those maintaining the map, perhaps it’s time to color code past/ongoing events).

So many heroes. So many victims. There is growing awareness of the necessity of knowing which bank accounts, etc. are verified, so that donations aren’t diverted to fraudulent ends. Check the Online Donations Options page for a list of verified bank accounts (domestic and international).

There are Filipinos abroad, in particular, who may not have much cash but are willing to gather relief goods if there’s a way to send the stuff home. Please get in touch with the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate first! There is the unfortunate but distinct possibility relief goods you send home would be intercepted by the Bureau of Customs and either impounded or taxed!

Please review the Philippine National Red Cross’ advisory concerning donations of goods/items for relief:

1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.

A similar process might be required even if you just want to send relief goods to your neighborhood, home town or province. I understand in some cases embassy/consulate officials have told Filipinos abroad they don’t want the hassle of dealing with relief goods, send money instead. You may want to do that, but also, please consider that it might take too long to send actual relief goods right now, anyway: actual goods required might be for schools, institutions, when the rebuilding begins.

Early this morning news came that the government, through the National Disaster Coordinating Council, has formally asked the internationally community for help, particularly in light of more storms to come. This will allow foreign governments to send assistance, something they couldn’t do without a formal request from the government. You can keep track of news by bookmarking The Philippines Needs Your Help.

You may think the title of that blog is alarmist but it’s true. Cotabato City, Mindanao, has been flooded since June of this year. Emergency funds are running out precisely at a time the government has to earmark funds for Metro Manila relief.

2:20 AM Operation Tulong Bayan is in need of volunteer doctors, nurses, and allied medical practitioners for medical missions to commence this Saturday. They also need free medicines. Please contact Jig Abella at 09202030170, Expo Centro, besides Farmers Market, Araneta Center, Cubao, QC. It’s between MRT Cubao Station and P. Tuazon, along EDSA.

1 AM Here’s a handy map of Metro Manila drop off points for donations. For people with Amazon accounts, here’s an effort to receive at least $500 in pledges by 8:49 AM EST September 30.

9/28/09

11:49 PM As floodwaters drain from the metropolis, news is Bulacan towns are getting flooded from the runoff. Laguna Province remains hard-hit by flooding. Meanwhile, Cebu is gearing up to help out in a big way. Citizens in the Visayas and Mindanao are also engaging in fundraising and gathering relief goods to send to Metro Manila.

As local communities in Metro Manila recover, they’re pitching in to help other areas. See Superbianca for details. I’ve taken the liberty of including information from her blog, below, especially for those in Australia, etc. interested in helping out.

Globe Telecoms has waived the transaction fee for donations via SMS to the Philippine National Red Cross. Philippine Air Lines has committed to transporting relief goods to Manila from other parts of the Philippines free of charge.

1:18 PM Report profiteers! Tonyo Cruz reports Generic Doxycycline 100mg caps for anti-leptospirosis prophylaxis last Friday P2/cap. Today P5-P10/cap at boticas across PGH

1 PM: Aggregated info can be found at http://www.typhoonondoy.org and http://www.ondoyrelief.org

Operation TULONG BAYAN
Priority Message
Monday, 28 September 2009

Heartfelt thanks to those who have so far volunteered their time and muscle! Our work is far from over, we hope you will continue to volunteer in the coming days as most drives like this lose their ‘pull’ quickly. We also profusely thank the individuals and companies that have donated so much to our relief drive and pray that they and many others will continue to keep the donations coming in.

WHERE WE ARE:

CUBAO – Cubao Expo Centro, EDSA corner Gen. MacArthur, Araneta Center (the old Seafood Market)

MAKATI – White Space, Pasong Tamo Extension (close to Cantinetta Resto and BMW showroom)

HOTLINES:

Cubao – 913-7122; 913-6254; 913-3306; 0908-657-9998

Makati – 710-8804; Rosanna 0917-830-5053 HOURS OF OPERATION:  8:00AM – 9:00PM

Daily ANNOUNCEMENTS:

As of Saturday, 26 September, all Piso Piso Para kay Noynoy and Mar donations have been earmarked for Tulong Bayan relief operationsOn Sunday, 27 September, we distributed over 2100 relief packages to three communities within Metro Manila and today, 28 September, are in the process of loading our trucks with over 3000 packs to be distributed to prioritized communities.

We are in need of the following items that can be delivered to Cubao Expo or White Space as soon as possible:

Rice
Sardines in tetra packs
mongo beans
sugar
dried fish
salt
cooking oil in sachets
bottled water
candles
matches
detergent soap
tarpaulin sheets 5-10meters per sheet (for shelter)
used cardboard or cartons (for bedding)
slippers
clothing
blankets

We will be accepting these donations, hopefully in bulk, throughout the week, and thank you in advance. Our brothers and sisters are in desperate need, please help as much as you can!

Those that wish to donate money can please deposit to the following accounts specially earmarked for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy: Payable to CORPORATE NETWORK FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

BDO Galleria Branch, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Savings Account 004640030358

BPI Ayala Paseo Branch, Current Account 0031065402

Once again, thank you for your help, we look forward to seeing you and accepting your donations very soon! Operation Tulong Bayan Volunteers!

12PM Urgent Message concerning more rains. From UP Councilor Bong Ong, here’s the standard relief pack:

In a heavy plastic bag:

2 canned goods(sardines, pork and beans, vienna sausages, etc.)

2 packs instant noodles

1 loaf of bread or 8 packs biscuits

1 liter water

Help the relief operations by prepurchasing/prepacking these packs and donating where needed. Call/contact ORCA which is composed of volunteers who will come and collect your donations. you may want to organize a similar effort within your neighborhood/community.

10AM: Regions III and IV-A are also badly hit from accounts tricking in; relief operations will have to be greatly expanded. The first wave of volunteers and rescue workers are reaching the limits of their endurance and more volunteers and workers will be required. The Red Cross and other aid organizations are asking people to focus on donating relief goods as staffing requirements seem to be well in hand.

Volunteers from around the world are expanding and maintaining, with the support of Google, OndoyManila, consolidating the efforts that began with Ondoy map for Marikina and Rescue Hub Info Central. Please consider lending a hand, specially if you know GoogleMaps, to help expand coverage to other devastated areas of Luzon.

While your memory is still fresh, please make a checklist or put down notes on your experiences getting information, or how rescue and relief reached your area. One big shortcoming of our institutions is the lack of a proper post mortem after emergencies like this one, with an eye to improving things and helping authorities and citizens work together. In particular, there are concerns the many help lines were, in fact, practically useless, and also, that over-reliance on cellphone communications may have hampered things. Either leave a comment here or make a blog post if you can, to help collate information on these and other issues.

9/27/09

2 AM : Updated information by freely borrowing latest update from Bury Me in This Dress.

9/26/09

6 PM : There are also updates at Random Salt and Sour Politics. Also, a list of impassable roads. If you are an IT professional or student, please consider helping with the Sahana FOSS Disaster Management System. The estimate of the authorities as of late afternoon, September 27, is that 25% of the metropolis remains submerged. People are still trapped on the roofs of their houses or in the 2nd or 3rd stories of buildings; there remains a crucial shortage of boats and inflatable craft; donations of bottled water, canned goods, cooking oil, salt, bedding (sheets, blankets, sleeping mats) and clothing are direly needed.