Typhoon Milenyo: Damage and Assistance Update

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 004544 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/EX AND EAP/MTS STATE PASS USAID STATE PASS USDA/FAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAID EAGR SENV SOCI RP SUBJECT: Typhoon Milenyo: Damage and Assistance Update REF: Manila 4241 and previous -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. Another powerful typhoon swept across the Philippines October 30, even as the government raised the damage estimate from Typhoon Milenyo to $131 million. End Summary. ¶2. The Philippine government revised its assessment of the destruction from Typhoon Milenyo, which felled numerous trees, billboards, and power lines as it struck just south of Manila on September 28 (reftel). The National Disaster Coordinating Committee (NDCC) reported that the total cost of damage to public infrastructure, school buildings, and agriculture approached $131 million. At the peak of the typhoon's aftermath, the NDCC was serving nearly 50,000 families in 440 evacuation centers in Luzon. The NDCC issued the following updates on the impacts of the typhoon: Affected areas: 7 regions, 20 provinces, 31 cities, 208 municipalities, and 4450 villages. Affected population: over 825,000 families and 4 million people. Casualties: 184 dead, 47 missing, and 536 injured. House Damage: Almost half a million homes, with 117,000 totally damaged and another 379,000 partially damaged. Property Damage: $131 million, consisting of: -- Infrastructure $38 million -- School Buildings $13 million -- Agriculture $80 million (Crops $75.5 million, Fisheries $3.5 million, Livestock $1 million) -------------- Reviving the Hardest Hit Sectors -------------- ¶3. The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced that the typhoon had downed 1390 electricity poles, 127 transformers, and 1520 primary electric lines. Meralco estimated the total damage to its distribution facilities and infrastructure was close to $8 million. The company sent repair crews to finalize the restoration of power in the southernmost provinces of Luzon. ¶4. New Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap admitted that the country's rice production for the year would fall short of its target but would still exceed the 14.5 million metric tons produced last year by 4 percent. The damage to the poultry sector, however, is expected to cause a supply shortage during the Christmas holiday season. To mitigate a surge in prices, the Agriculture Department gave private sector importers permission to import three million kilograms of chicken, most likely sourced from the United States, and may allow imports of an additional two million kilograms. -------------- Answering Calls for Assistance -------------- ¶5. The national and local governments have already provided combined relief of almost $1 million. International entities have provided the following assistance: United States -- $100,000 to Philippine National Red Cross AusAID - 50,000 Australian dollars for PNRC and UNDP UNDP -- $10,000 for school rehabilitation U.S. assistance, channeled through USAID, allowed PNRC to buy rice, canned goods, noodles, and non-food commodities such as blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, and hygiene kits to support 6000 families (30,000 people) in Albay and Sorsogon Provinces in southern Luzon and Quezon Province. ¶6. The Philippine government appealed through the local press to the international community for assistance in funding the $100 million rehabilitation plan of the National Defense Coordinating Committee. In a letter to the UN Development Program, Defense Secretary Cruz expressed hope that international donors would SIPDIS respond with assistance like that provided to southern Leyte after massive mudslides struck the island in February. The Red Cross made a more explicit appeal for nearly $5 million to pay for emergency food and household items, shelter repair and reconstruction. As of October 20, there were still 96 evacuation centers still open, MANILA 00004544 002 OF 002 sheltering over 2500 families and 15,700 people. In addition, the NDCC estimated that another 94,000 families or 494,000 people were still being served outside evacuation centers. -------------- Added Damage from Typhoon Paeng -------------- ¶7. Even as the Philippine government continues to seek donations for Typhoon Milenyo, another powerful typhoon swept across the country. Typhoon Paeng (international name: Cimaron) hit northern Luzon on October 30, bringing winds of 200 kilometers per hour and intense rains. The typhoon killed at least five people, forced hundreds of families to evacuate their homes, and caused upwards of $2.3 million in damage to crops, livestock, and fishery facilities and nearly $1 million in damage to roads, bridges, and school buildings. Jones