VZCZCXRO2620
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #1521 1770954
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 250954Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1092
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHOVQHS/COMSEVENTHFLT  IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 001521 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/RSP, EAP/MTS 
STATE PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC EAGR EAID RP SOCI
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS IN ASSISTING TYPHOON FRANK VICTIMS 
 
REF: MANILA 1504: RAPID RESPONSE TO TYPHOON FRANK 
 
1.(U)  THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE -- SEE PARAGRAPH 6 
 
¶2. (U)  SUMMARY:  Typhoon Frank struck the Philippines June 
21-22, leaving an estimated 300 people dead, 800 missing, and 
USD 22 million in property damage in 20 Philippine provinces. 
 The death toll is expected to rise significantly as hundreds 
of bodies are recovered from the sunken ferry "Princess of 
the Stars," which capsized off Sibuyan Island with at least 
800 passengers and crew on board (reftel). In their June 24 
meeting in Washington, President Bush and Philippine 
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo agreed that the USS Ronald 
Reagan and its carrier group would be dispatched to the 
Philippines to render assistance.  Post requests that the 
Department of State send the required message to Department 
of Defense to obtain approval for the Reagan carrier group 
and other PACOM humanitarian relief assets to provide 
assistance to the Philippines.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (U)  Typhoon Frank ravaged 20 provinces in the Philippines 
June 21-22, affecting more than half a million people, 70,000 
of whom are now in evacuation centers.  Although the present 
death-toll estimate stands at 300, the number will climb as 
bodies are recovered.  In addition to devastation caused by 
floods, storm surge, and landslides, the ferry "Princess of 
the Stars" sank in the area of the Romblon Island chain with 
742 known passengers and 130 crew members on the manifest. 
According to the National Disaster Coordination Council 
(NDCC), the initial property damage is estimated at USD 22 
million and includes destroyed or damaged homes, school 
structures, and crops.  However, damage estimates are 
expected to rise as the effects of the storm's flood waters 
and 170 kph winds on bridges, roads, and power stations are 
more fully assessed. 
 
¶4. (U)  In their June 24 meeting in Washington, Presidents 
Bush and Arroyo agreed that the USS Ronald Reagan and its 
accompanying vessels (one cruiser, two destroyers, and one 
frigate) would provide humanitarian assistance to the 
typhoon-stricken areas in the Philippines. Previously, 
Cabinet Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita conveyed to Charge 
on June 23 the Philippine government's desire for assistance 
from the USG, followed by an official request from the NDCC, 
which is charged with carrying out relief efforts. 
 
¶5. (U) The Reagan carrier group is currently positioned off 
the southwest coast of Panay Island in the central 
Philippines.  In addition, the USNS Stockham, with 
search-and-rescue capable helicopters, small boats, and scuba 
team, is in Philippine territorial waters, and is engaged in 
search and recovery activities.  Over the past 48 hours, a 
U.S. P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft has been flying 
over the Sibuyan Sea, providing images of the aftermath of 
the sunken ferry "Princess of the Stars" to the Philippine 
Navy and Coast Guard. 
 
¶6. (U)  ACTION REQUEST:  Embassy Manila requests that the 
Department of State send the required message to the 
Department of Defense to obtain approval for DoD commands and 
elements to provide disaster relief such as water 
purification, emergency power, airlift capabilities, bridge, 
road and building repair, medical aid and other forms of 
assistance as required to assist Philippine authorities 
conducting disaster-response efforts in Ilo-Ilo and other 
typhoon-ravaged areas of the Philippines. 
MEMMOTT