It may be a stretch for some to feel all toasty and charitable in the coming holidays, especially those who may have lost loved ones and their homes in the last typhoons. But as a friend pointed out, it is up to us, those who were not directly touched by the calamities, to help the victims get into the Christmas spirit. (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)
Showing posts with label Typhoon Pepeng. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Typhoon Pepeng. Show all posts
November 09, 2009
Getting into the Christmas spirit
October 24, 2009
Move those relief goods Sec. Cabral!
GOOD grief! If you haven't seen the photos of those relief goods just sitting at DSWD warehouse, click here. Good thing Ella's blog is up and running again. Ok, so we all suspiciously thought it was taken down by some powerful entities. It was just due to too much web traffic pala. hehe (My thanks to Ella also for taking off from my previous blog about relief efforts at Tulong Bayan in Cubao and White Space. Although slight correction, only the first photo she used was Leah Navarro's; the rest were mine.)
(The warehouse of DSWD. No one repacking the goods. Where are the DSWD staff? How come Sec. Cabral has not asked for volunteers? Photo from Ella's site.)
Anyhoo, this is disturbing news indeed. Many privately-run relief efforts wrapped up a week after Ondoy primarily because there were no more goods coming in. Then we all find out, tons are just with the DSWD gathering dust! Maybe Sec. Peter Favila should train his guns on DSWD for hoarding all those relief goods! For what kaya? For next year's elections? Does the gov't intend to give out the rest of these goods when their candidates are campaigning? We can't help thinking this way!
Even DSWD Sec. Esperanza Cabral's subsequent explanation on the issue makes no sense. If the agency needed volunteers, all she had to do was shout out over the radio, TV, through the DSWD web site, and other bloggers! It's scary that there are just so many unthinking and inefficient people now in government service!
People are dying, or getting sick, and running out of food in the typhoon-stricken areas, or in the evacuation centers, and all that we were treated to were immensely huge photos of Dr. Cabral (and presidentiable Gibo Teodoro) handing out a pittance of relief goods. Teka Lolah, tatakbo ka bang Senador?
Even after Ella's exposé btw, things have little changed at the DSWD. Political columnist/blogger Manolo Quezon and some of his friends went to check on the warehouse, the account of which is in Update 3 of Bury me in this dress.
* * * *
Meanwhile, I told my mom about the issue of the DSWD warehouse and she got pissed about it. You see my mom was a social worker back when DSWD was still called Social Welfare Administration. She loved her work so much, going to the poor communities in Tondo, for instance, that she actually turned down a job offer to become the secretary of then SWA administrator Pacita Madrigal Warns. This was the time when Ramon Magsaysay was Philippine president.
Back then, she said, SWA staff were extremely efficient, honest, and dedicated to their work. But things may have turned under the time of the Marcoses. My mom told me for instance how one regional SWA official, a former colleague, approached her asking if she wanted some instant milk powder. (This was when my mom was already married to my Dad and had retired from SWA.) She asked how the SWA official came to have so much milk powder in her possession, the officer said, it was bec. of her work at the SWA. "E kasi Social Welfare ako di ba?" was how my mom quoted her ex-colleague. Instead of giving the milk powder, donated most probably by foreign governments, to poor and needy communities, this SWA official was handing them out to friends and family! Ang kapal!
Okay, I'm not saying that all the DSWD staff are like this ex-SWA regional officer, but I would suppose everyone will take their cue from their respective bosses. If they see their DSWD bosses just sitting in their airconditioned offices and nagpapa-ganda/nagpapa-picture lang, or filching from their stocks of donated goods, they too will follow. Monkey see, monkey do.
Ella didn't claim naman that the relief goods in DSWD are "rotting" there as alleged in some TV reports, or being pilfered by the agency staff, so all I'm saying is, the systems and procedures are definitely not efficient at that agency. There is no organization in the way the relief goods are being handled, repacked, and distributed. What are the DSWD employees doing about this? Now, if the agency is shorthanded, all it has to do is ask for volunteers because I'm sure many people would like to help...unless its officials really don't want the public to know what exactly is going on in those DSWD warehouses.
(The warehouse of DSWD. No one repacking the goods. Where are the DSWD staff? How come Sec. Cabral has not asked for volunteers? Photo from Ella's site.)Anyhoo, this is disturbing news indeed. Many privately-run relief efforts wrapped up a week after Ondoy primarily because there were no more goods coming in. Then we all find out, tons are just with the DSWD gathering dust! Maybe Sec. Peter Favila should train his guns on DSWD for hoarding all those relief goods! For what kaya? For next year's elections? Does the gov't intend to give out the rest of these goods when their candidates are campaigning? We can't help thinking this way!
Even DSWD Sec. Esperanza Cabral's subsequent explanation on the issue makes no sense. If the agency needed volunteers, all she had to do was shout out over the radio, TV, through the DSWD web site, and other bloggers! It's scary that there are just so many unthinking and inefficient people now in government service!
People are dying, or getting sick, and running out of food in the typhoon-stricken areas, or in the evacuation centers, and all that we were treated to were immensely huge photos of Dr. Cabral (and presidentiable Gibo Teodoro) handing out a pittance of relief goods. Teka Lolah, tatakbo ka bang Senador?
Even after Ella's exposé btw, things have little changed at the DSWD. Political columnist/blogger Manolo Quezon and some of his friends went to check on the warehouse, the account of which is in Update 3 of Bury me in this dress.
* * * *
Meanwhile, I told my mom about the issue of the DSWD warehouse and she got pissed about it. You see my mom was a social worker back when DSWD was still called Social Welfare Administration. She loved her work so much, going to the poor communities in Tondo, for instance, that she actually turned down a job offer to become the secretary of then SWA administrator Pacita Madrigal Warns. This was the time when Ramon Magsaysay was Philippine president.
Back then, she said, SWA staff were extremely efficient, honest, and dedicated to their work. But things may have turned under the time of the Marcoses. My mom told me for instance how one regional SWA official, a former colleague, approached her asking if she wanted some instant milk powder. (This was when my mom was already married to my Dad and had retired from SWA.) She asked how the SWA official came to have so much milk powder in her possession, the officer said, it was bec. of her work at the SWA. "E kasi Social Welfare ako di ba?" was how my mom quoted her ex-colleague. Instead of giving the milk powder, donated most probably by foreign governments, to poor and needy communities, this SWA official was handing them out to friends and family! Ang kapal!
Okay, I'm not saying that all the DSWD staff are like this ex-SWA regional officer, but I would suppose everyone will take their cue from their respective bosses. If they see their DSWD bosses just sitting in their airconditioned offices and nagpapa-ganda/nagpapa-picture lang, or filching from their stocks of donated goods, they too will follow. Monkey see, monkey do.
Ella didn't claim naman that the relief goods in DSWD are "rotting" there as alleged in some TV reports, or being pilfered by the agency staff, so all I'm saying is, the systems and procedures are definitely not efficient at that agency. There is no organization in the way the relief goods are being handled, repacked, and distributed. What are the DSWD employees doing about this? Now, if the agency is shorthanded, all it has to do is ask for volunteers because I'm sure many people would like to help...unless its officials really don't want the public to know what exactly is going on in those DSWD warehouses.
October 19, 2009
Rain rain go away!
IT'S 4:26 a.m., Oct. 19, Monday. The rain is starting to pour again. I can imagine people who survived Typhoon Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng are again nervously peering through their windows to check for any signs of rising floodwaters. I hate to be in their position.
I wish this rain would stop and Typhoon Lupit/Ramil just dissipate in the ocean.
Here's the latest on the new weather disturbance from the Japan Meteorological Agency. The satellite imagery is here.
Be safe, be informed.
I wish this rain would stop and Typhoon Lupit/Ramil just dissipate in the ocean.
Here's the latest on the new weather disturbance from the Japan Meteorological Agency. The satellite imagery is here.
Be safe, be informed.
October 02, 2009
For foreign donors
PLS. coordinate with the Philippine Embassy/Consulates in your respective areas and the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development for your donations. Click here for the procedures you have to follow to make sure your donations get to the right recipients.
Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Gary Teves yesterday released a public advisory via text saying: "the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is now coordinating with the DSWD for the immediate release of used clothes donation from international institutions for the typhoon Ondoy victims. International organizations are advised to donate used clothes directly to DSWD as existing laws (RA 4653) prohibit the importation of used clothes for the Philippines.
* * * *
FYI: Sec. Teves, through his publicist, also informed me that "we will discuss with DSWD [Esperanza] Cabral if she can work with NGOs to faciliate the release of these goods."
Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Gary Teves yesterday released a public advisory via text saying: "the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is now coordinating with the DSWD for the immediate release of used clothes donation from international institutions for the typhoon Ondoy victims. International organizations are advised to donate used clothes directly to DSWD as existing laws (RA 4653) prohibit the importation of used clothes for the Philippines.
FYI: Sec. Teves, through his publicist, also informed me that "we will discuss with DSWD [Esperanza] Cabral if she can work with NGOs to faciliate the release of these goods."
'Wag na kayong umasa sa rescue'-Gibo
DISASTER czar Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro made this statement during a press conference this morning. That's bec. the government is ill-equipped anyway to undertake one, as was quite evident when Typhoon Ondoy lashed the metropolis and flooded many key areas.
So please people, if you are living in low-lying areas, get out and evacuate to a higher elevation. Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) is upon us, and you can't risk your life and that of your family's just bec. you want to protect your house and possessions. Family comes first, above all. Don't be embarassed to ask help from friends and relatives. We've been witnessing the resurgence of the bayanihan spirit and I'm pretty sure, many people will take you in while Pepeng dumps its rains on Northern Luzon.
Pls. make sure you have an emergency kit w/ flashlights, batteries, transistor or hand-cranked radio, canned goods, blankets, and a change of clothing and underwear, plus your important documents (Land titles, bank books, etc.) and papers w/ you. By now, you should've already charged your cellphones and just keep communications to simple texts so as not to load the cellphone infrastructure.
Keep paying attention to the news so you will get accurate information about the typhoon and flooding situation. ABS-CBN/ANC, DZMM, and GMA TV/DZBB The recent text messages on Pepeng, have been, more or less, disinforming the public. (NO, MERALCO WILL NOT SHUT DOWN ITS POWER at 9 PM TONIGHT UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.) Also, here are useful links about the typhoon: PAG-ASA, Typhoon 2000, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Here's a sample of an emergency kit checklist from Ready America, w/c I think is useful for all of us to have. (This being the Philippines, I personally would add a couple of wet suits, flippers, and a rubber dinghy.)
Emergency Kit
Here's also a list of important contacts during emergencies and disasters as compiled by the Onday Google web page creators:
So please people, if you are living in low-lying areas, get out and evacuate to a higher elevation. Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) is upon us, and you can't risk your life and that of your family's just bec. you want to protect your house and possessions. Family comes first, above all. Don't be embarassed to ask help from friends and relatives. We've been witnessing the resurgence of the bayanihan spirit and I'm pretty sure, many people will take you in while Pepeng dumps its rains on Northern Luzon.
Pls. make sure you have an emergency kit w/ flashlights, batteries, transistor or hand-cranked radio, canned goods, blankets, and a change of clothing and underwear, plus your important documents (Land titles, bank books, etc.) and papers w/ you. By now, you should've already charged your cellphones and just keep communications to simple texts so as not to load the cellphone infrastructure.
Keep paying attention to the news so you will get accurate information about the typhoon and flooding situation. ABS-CBN/ANC, DZMM, and GMA TV/DZBB The recent text messages on Pepeng, have been, more or less, disinforming the public. (NO, MERALCO WILL NOT SHUT DOWN ITS POWER at 9 PM TONIGHT UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.) Also, here are useful links about the typhoon: PAG-ASA, Typhoon 2000, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Here's a sample of an emergency kit checklist from Ready America, w/c I think is useful for all of us to have. (This being the Philippines, I personally would add a couple of wet suits, flippers, and a rubber dinghy.)
Emergency Kit
Here's also a list of important contacts during emergencies and disasters as compiled by the Onday Google web page creators:
- Rescue Operations
- National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
- Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
- Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
- Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
- Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
- Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
- Quezon City Rescue (161)
- San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
- Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
- Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
- Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)
- Civil Society/ Media
- Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
- Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
- Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
- ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
- Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968
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