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Hi guys,

Philippine government is underestimating the impact of typhoon Ketsana (locally known as typhoon Ondoy).  The government estimated the cost of damage at P8.3 billion as of 4 October 11pm.

A.  So what’s the story?

Economic cost should include not only the nominal, direct effects but also indirect losses, system losses (e.g. linkages), foregone revenues and opportunity costs.  Not to mention the social impact.

I did a bit of calculations using official reports from NDCC, DepED, DA and statistical reports from various govt agencies and here’s my initial assessment.  (Of course, the figures will go higher as official data unravels).

Total economic cost: no less than P14.9 billion (this does not include the losses incurred by the business sector. I am still waiting for the Phil Chamber of Commerce report).  The breakdown:
1. Agri and Fisheries: P8.6 billion
2. Transportation: P3.1 billion (this includes the foregone revenues of civil aviation (passengers) at P358 million
3. Housing: P2.5 billion
4. Government sector (including educ infra and assistance): P284 million
5. Access Cost of Students (who were effectively displaced from their schools. these schools were converted into evacuation centers): P88 million.  This could go up to P140 million.
6. Foregone revenues of the dead, present value: P290 million

In addition, no less than P1.06 billion YEARLY forgone revenues in agriculture for agri lands that are considered ‘no chance of recovery’.

These estimates are conservative and does not include other things: (i) destruction of durables and non-durable household items, foregone revenues of business establishments, actual damage in assets of business establishments, unaccounted donations, sea transport, actual medical expenses of the injured and future health/medical expenses to curb water-borne diseases, among others.

B. How about the response?

On average, there are 628 persons in one evacuation center.  These individuals are those actually served/housed in evacuation centers.  Some of these evacuation centers are public schools.  But, if we take all of the individuals affected by Ondoy, the ratio is 7,571 persons in one evacuation center.  That would be a multiple of 12 evacuation centers given the current average population of an evacuation center in the field.  The figures, of course, varies by region.  Central Luzon has 14,070 persons in one evacuation center while only 661 persons are actually housed in the center.

C. What about government assistance?

The total amount of government assistance (including those given by NGOs) is valued at P80.02 million (of which, P64.6 million constitutes as direct government assistance and P15.38 million is the assessed value of sacks of rice).  Total number of affected individuals, to date: 3,899, 307.  This translates to P20.52 per person.  What can this buy?  Well, one (1) kilo of NHA rice is P18.25 and maybe two (2) ice water at one peso each.  But with looming uncertainties faced by those affected on how to go on with their daily lives, P20.52 is absolutely not sustaining.

But not all 3,899,307 people are actually served by the government. The government has actually served only 982,408, again, to date.  This means: each served individual has received P81.45 pesos.  That’s the value of social protection programme per person, for this type of catastrophic risk.  And, that value, I am sure, will increase each day hence as support pours in.  If we compare that, however, with properties and lives destroyed, well…..

D. So where do the rest of the affected get help from?

From kins, friends and social networks.  They are proofs that support can come from what economists and sociologists call ‘informal arrangements’ (as opposed to ‘formal arrangements’ by the government and from international support).  At times, catastrophic events like that havocked by Ondoy can wipe out a whole host of insurable material assets and the only asset left is friends, relatives and social networks.  They act as social insurance which allows individuals to even out consumption during hard times.  They are extremely valuable.

That’s all for now.

Assad

Last year’s Blog Action Day was about poverty; this year’s is about CLIMATE CHANGE.

Are you listening, Philippines? Are you listening, world? Yes, the issue hits home. So much more now.

If you’re one of the millions of bloggers out there who wants to be involved, do sign up. This is an online activity TRULY worth getting into. And, yes, spread the word online!

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SOME TIPS FOR SURVIVORS:

• Follow a normal routine as much as possible.
• Be careful not to skip meals.
• Stay active and busy
• Distractions may help – reach out to other people in your community as a volunteer.
• Accept help from family, friends, co-workers, or clergy.
• Don’t dwell on TV, radio, or newspaper reports on the tragedy
• Know that your unusual reactions are normal given what happened to you. They should taper off in time.
• Talk about your feelings with people
• Feel free to see us if you wish for someone to talk to!

Ateneo Psychology Department Psycho-Social Support Services:
Online Counseling via Yahoo Messenger
Ateneopsychvolunteers@yahoo.com (9 am to 12 midnight)

Phone Counseling 5057251 from 9 am to 5 pm

“Some university student leaders who have been assisting at the ABS-CBN relief center have expressed dismay at the slow release and distribution of goods. They tried to ask the ABS Foundation if they could direct the goods for badly neeed gov’t evacuation sites and were shocked by the response: “ABS-CBN dos not release to the gov’t or any gov’t-operated evacuation site.” Lots of goods are donated to ABS-CBN and not being distributed because they are waiting for the availability of their stars and they are using donated goods as leverage for their network. Please pass to let the Filipinos know.”

Let us ask our friends at ABS-CBN for their reactions.

Dear Kababayans and Friends,

Last Saturday, Typhoon Ondoy unleashed the heaviest rainfall in the Philippines in the past forty years (34.1 cm., one-month’s worth of rain, in Metro Manila in just six hours), submerging 80% of MM under water and  placing 27 provinces under a state of calamity.  The NDCC reports damage to infrastructure at P108M; Agri. Sec. Yap estimates damage to crops at half a billion pesos.  Two hundred forty have perished, many remain missing, and almost half a million people have been displaced.

The Tanging Yaman Foundation, in consortium with the Philippine Jesuit Province, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan and Ateneo de Manila University, is appealing for aid for the thousands dispossessed and displaced.  For those who wish to help the victims of Ondoy, you may send financial aid through the following:

U.S.A./Canada

1. Check (Tax-deductible):
Philippine Jesuit Foundation
236 West 27th Street
Ninth Floor New York
New York 10001

2. Courier (P10.00 service fee):
Any of the 64 LBC branches in the U.S.A.

Address check to LBC (Ondoy-TYF)

3. Bank Transfer (regular bank charges)
Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc.
Metrobank SA (USD): 448-2-44800265-3
SWIFT Code: MBTCPHMM

4. On-line Credit Card (5% service fee & credit card charge)
Ayala Foundation
Visit http://www.facebook.com/l/fd703;www.af-usa.org/donate_now.asp
Click ‘donate now’, click on credit card icon
Select Ateneo de Manila in the drop down menu
For beneficiary, write: Ateneo Task Force Ondoy

MIDDLE EAST: U.A.E.

EUROPE: Spain & Italy

ASIA: HK, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Australia, Taiwan

1. Courier:
Any of the 56 LBC branches in Asia

Address check to LBC (Ondoy-TYF)

2. Bank Transfer
Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc.
MetroBank SA (USD): 448-2-44800265-3
SWIFT Code: MBTCPHMM

In Our Lord’s Mercy

Fr. Manoling V. Francisco, SJ

Executive Director
Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc.
Loyola School of Theology,
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, QC, MM
Philippines

Noted by:
Fr. Primitivo Viray, SJ
Rector
Loyola House of Studies

Send a Fee-Free Money Transfer to Help the Typhoon Ondoy Relief Efforts

Dear Nina,

Xoom is concerned about the situation in the Philippines and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by Typhoon Ondoy. To help the Typhoon Ondoy relief efforts, we are offering fee-free money transfers to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

You can donate to the relief efforts by visiting Xoom.com and entering the coupon code “HELPONDOY” to make a fee-free money transfer donation to the Philippine National Red Cross. This special coupon code is valid until Friday October 9, 2009.

How to Use Xoom to Help the Typhoon Ondoy Relief Efforts

Use the following steps to make a donation to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC):

Step 1 – Sign up for a Xoom.com account, or sign in to your existing Xoom.com account.
Step 2 – Select Bank Deposit as a disbursement option.
Step 3 – Enter the following Recipient Name and Bank Account details:

Recipient Name – Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)

Bank Account Details – The following Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) bank account details will be needed at the time of the transaction. You can enter any one of the following bank accounts to make their donation:

PNRC Peso Accounts:
•    Banco de Oro – Peso Account: 453-0018647
•    Bank of the Philippine Islands – Peso Account: 4991-0010-99
•    Metrobank – Peso Account: 151-3-04163122-8
•    Philippine National Bank – Peso Account: 3623-3680-0011

PNRC Dollar Accounts:
•    Banco de Oro – Dollar Account:  453-0039482
•    Bank of the Philippine Islands – Dollar Account:  8114-0030-94
•    Metrobank – Dollar Account: 151-2-151002182
•    Philippine National Bank – Dollar Account: 375-283500026

Enter Recipient Address and Phone Number:

Philippines National Red Cross
National Headquarters
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area
Manila 2803, Philippines
Phone Number: 632 527 0000

Step 4 - Enter the coupon code “HELPONDOY” at the bottom of the Payments page.

Please forward this email to your friends and family who would like to donate to the relief efforts.

We wish to thank EVERYONE who donated food and clothes, packed the goods, and helped in the distribution and relief efforts.

WE ARE HOLDING ANOTHER RELIEF OPERATION TOMORROW–THIS TIME AT THE TAHANANG WALANG HAGDAN AT CAINTA, RIZAL–AND WILL NEED ANOTHER ROUND OF VOLUNTEERS.

Details are as follows:

Meeting place: AGS Building Annex, 446 EDSA Guadalupe Viejo (along EDSA Southbound, the compound right after PET Tower and before hitting Rockwell)

Meeting time: 9:30 AM

Contact person/s: Rachel Gillego (0918) 924 1636 / Yvette Garcia (0917) 393 4878

**If you also know of some doctors or nurses who want to volunteer, it would be of great help. Thank you very much!

–
Dear friends,

In line with the recent devastation that our countrymen suffered due to flood, I would like to give some practical tips to those whose vehicles have been submerged in water. First, don’t try to start your vehicle as this might short circuit the electrical connections and damage the computer module, if the vehicle is equipped with one.  Let it stay and dry for a day or two.  Disconnect the battery and have it towed to your nearest autoshop or if you have a trusted mechanic, have it serviced in your home.  All consumables, meaning, fluids of the vehicle must be drained and changed upon inspection (engine oil, transmission oil, brake fluid, steering fluid, water in radiator/reservoir, etc.).  All filters (oil, fuel, transmission etc.) and spark plugs must also be replaced.  Othe parts for replacement will depend upon the inspection and further testing by the mechanic. Of course, your vehicle will need interior and engine detailing.

I hope this reminders will serve as your guide to prevent any further damage to your vehicle.  God bless!

Ronald R. Misa
Motortech, Inc.
Metrowalk Complex, Meralco Ave.
Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City, Philippines

–

Dear All,

Hope you are all safe and well.

I would just like to inform everyone of various ways how YOU can help. There is a lot of assistance needed BY SO MANY in flooded areas. At this point, we encourage all efforts that all efforts to coordinate with agencies that already have the system in place to mobilize relief efforts to ensure efficiency and expediency in getting the goods to where they are needed most. (NDCC, DSWD, Red Cross, CNDR, PSDMN and/or various LGUs.)

You can give your donations to:

1. All PETRON Gasoline Stations
2. Kapuso Foundation GMA7
3. Sagip Kapamilya Foundation ABS-CBN
4. Ateneo College Covered Courts, Katipunan, QC – Ateneo -SLB Task Force Noah (open 6am to 12md)
5. UP College of Mass Communication
6. DLSU Sagip Metro Relief Drive for Ondoy -  Sept 29 @Sagip Metro booth in Central Plaza
7. Team Manila and Papemelroti branches
8. Tulong Bayan – White Space
(along Pasong Tamo Extension, nr Glaxo Smith Klein and Silverlens Gallery)
9. Tulong Bayan – Expo Centro, Araneta Center, Cubao
(Volunteers are welcome, 8am-9pm)
10. Poveda

Goods needed are rice, canned goods, noodles, bread, milk and water. Clothes, blankets, banigs, tarpaulins are also being accepted. For those who can provide transportation support (trucks) to distubute goods please get in touch as well so that we can schedule it properly. Food for the volunteers (over 200 are expected to be there at any given time) will also be appreciated. Those who want to volunteer are also welcome. You may call 0908-8877166 for inquiries.

We are accepting donations for nails, roofs, and wood (house-building materials) for BASECO. Most of the houses there have been flushed by the raging waters. For those particular items, kindly email helpbaseco@gmail.com.

Cash donations will also be accepted in Ateneo or through bank deposit:

Donate to Red Cross thru text. Send RED (space)<5, 25, 50, 100 or 300> to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (Smart)

SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (Account Name/Payee)
Bank of the Philippine Islands (Loyola-Katipunan Branch)
Peso Checking Account Number  : 3081-1111-61
Dollar Savings Account Number : 3084-0420-12

Corporate Network for Disaster Response
BPI Checking Account No. 0031 0654 02
Ayala Paseo Branch

For pledges, please email orcaondoy@gmail.com with the following format: http://orcaondoy.blogspot.com/

You may also pledge at the following celphone number:
+63917-517-2671
with the following format:
Text ‘ORCA-CITY-Name-Amount-

Address(Exact)-Details for drop off/pick up’

Also, if you’re willing to lend us you and your car for collection and delivery, then you may pledge those too! Please put in your email:
SUBJECT: Pledge car
Your name and contact number

PLEASE NOTE: pledges will only be accepted until 6pm tomorrow, Monday, September 28.

Filipinos > Ondoy!