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OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2098/01 2750906
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 020906Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5349
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INFO RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 2291
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0315
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 002098 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
BANGKOK FOR  USAID /OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR A. DWYER 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA R. THAYER 
USAID W/ FOR ANE/AA AND DCHA/FPP 
GENEVA FOR N. KYLOH 
USUN FOR OFDA REP 
BRUSSELS FOR P. BROWN 
ROME FOR USAID/OHA H. SPANOS 
SECDEF FOR SOLIC 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR J3/J4/J5 
PACOM FOR J3/J4/J5 
NSC FOR P. MARCHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID SOCI PREL KPAO SENV EAGR RP
SUBJECT: U.S. UPS AID AS MANILA STRUGGLES WITH TROPICAL STORM ONDOY 
AFTERMATH AND BRACES FOR SUPER TYPHOON 
 
REFTELS:  A) Manila 2089 B) Manila 2070 C) Manila 2056 D) Manila 
2049 E) Manila 2046 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Even as Super Typhoon Pepeng (international name 
Parma) threatens the country anew, Philippine officials are 
struggling to cope with the over 400,000 displaced people and 293 
deaths caused by tropical storm Ondoy (international name Ketsana). 
Agricultural losses, while significant, do not raise a food security 
risk.  Philippine government agencies are working to ensure adequate 
supplies of food, other staples, and credit.  The USG has allocated 
(through USAID)an additional $1 million in humanitarian assistance. 
Additional U.S. personnel and equipment, diverted from previously 
scheduled joint Philippine-U.S. military exercises to relief 
efforts, are already providing on the ground.  The Embassy has 
restored compound power and communications, and continues to engage 
local officials regarding the whereabouts of 30 American citizens 
who remain unaccounted-for. Media have extensively covered U.S aid 
and humanitarian efforts.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The number of known victims of tropical storm Ondoy 
(international name Ketsana) now stands at 293 fatalities and over 
400,000 displaced individuals housed in 526 evacuation centers as of 
Friday, October 2, according to the Philippines' National Disaster 
Coordinating Council (NDCC).  The Armed Forces of the Philippines 
(AFP) have deployed over 8,000 soldiers for relief efforts in the 
Metro Manila area.  Philippine police, fire and military personnel 
are conducting clean-up operations in major disaster-affected areas, 
and water and power services have been restored to most locales. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Presidential Palace as Relief Hub 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) While major roadways have been cleared, many hard-hit areas 
east and southeast of central Manila remained flooded.  Engineers 
with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority faulted three 
pumping stations knocked out by the storm for the lingering water. 
This flooding, along with large scale property damage in areas where 
waters have receded, has prevented over 400,000 flood victims from 
returning to their homes.  Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD) officials are struggling to feed and shelter the 
unprecedented number of evacuees, with newspapers reporting unruly 
crowds jockeying for food packs at hard-hit locations in Marikina 
(Metro Manila) and nearby Rizal province.  In a well-publicized 
response to these logistical challenges President Arroyo moved 200 
evacuees from an overcrowded evacuation center she visited to the 
Presidential Malacanang Palace grounds, which are already serving as 
a distribution hub for relief supplies.  Philippine Secretary of 
National Defense Gilberto Teodoro announced that Philippine National 
Police units would patrol areas where looting of abandoned homes and 
automobiles had been reported. 
 
------------------- 
Agricultural Damage 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) While urban Manila suffered the brunt of the flooding, 
tropical storm Ondoy caused 3.6 billion pesos ($75 million) of 
damage to the agricultural sector in surrounding provinces, 
including the loss of 180,000 tons of rice valued at 3.3 billion 
pesos ($69 million), according to the Philippines' Department of 
Agriculture estimates.  Fisheries ($2.7 million), high value fruits 
and vegetables ($2.6 million), corn ($1.1 million) and 
livestock/poultry ($0.6 million) were also affected.  Paul 
Fernandez, the Acting Governor of Isabela province, the Philippines' 
top corn producer, told EconOff that although tropical storm Ondoy 
did minimal damage to the corn crop, 60 percent of the province's 
corn remained unharvested, making it vulnerable to the three low 
pressure systems now headed for Luzon.  Unlike rice, the vast 
 
MANILA 00002098  002 OF 003 
 
 
majority of corn plants do not survive extreme weather events 
according to Fernandez. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Government Caps Prices, May Intervene in Food Markets 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Philippine Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Yap announced 
that public National Food Authority (NFA) and private rice stocks 
exceeded two months of national consumption, allaying fears of 
shortages.  The Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 
meanwhile, capped prices of food, cooking, and sanitary staples for 
60 days.  Department of Agriculture contacts tell us it will 
recommend various emergency measures to the executive branch to 
maintain food supplies.  The NFA would procure from unaffected areas 
and release existing stocks of pork, chicken, vegetables and 
tilapia, and would also temporarily lift special agricultural 
safeguards duties on chicken. 
----------------------- 
Banks Offer Debt Relief 
----------------------- 
¶6. (SBU) In a media interview October 1, Deputy Governor Espenilla 
of the Philippine Central Bank appealed to banks to temporarily ease 
the burden on affected borrowers.  In response, major private and 
public Philippine banks are offering to restructure loans and waive 
remittance fees for flood victims.  Citibank announced a 30-day 
payment holiday for its credit card holders and personal loan 
borrowers who were affected by the storm. 
--------------- 
U.S. Assistance 
--------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) In addition to the $100,000 released to the Philippine 
National Red Cross (PNRC) on September 29, USAID's Office of Foreign 
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has allocated an additional $1 million in 
emergency aid to the PNRC and other humanitarian organizations.  An 
OFDA humanitarian supplies flight (Aleutian-70) is scheduled to 
arrive on Friday, October 2, with non-food relief items (water 
containers, hygiene kits and plastic sheeting) valued at $390,000 
and sufficient to assist 220,000 people.  The PNRC will begin 
distribution of these supplies immediately upon arrival.  USAID/OFDA 
regional advisors are in Manila, assessing the humanitarian 
situation and assisting with coordination between the Government of 
the Philippines, NGOs, UN agencies, and the U.S. military.  OFDA 
advisors are also actively monitoring Typhoon Parma, tropical storm 
Melor and one additional tropical depression, which might affect 
humanitarian conditions and the subsequent USG response. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
U.S. Military Aids Sick, Hungry, Clears Roads 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) On October 1 in Metro Manila's Quezon City, Third Marine 
Expeditionary Force (III MEF) personnel treated almost 800 injured, 
transported or distributed thousands of packs of food and donated 
clothing to DSWD distribution centers, and cleared roads of debris. 
These activities are continuing.  Additional U.S. Marine and Navy 
forces diverted from Talon Vision/PHIBLEX (Philippines Bilateral 
Exercise) currently en route will augment the III MEF personnel in 
coming days. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Ambassador outlined ongoing and upcoming U.S. relief 
efforts to Presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in an 
October 1 meeting, during which Ermita expressed deep appreciation 
for U.S. assistance.   He noted he had briefed the President on USG 
efforts, which he said helped reinforce for Filipinos the value of 
their partnership with the United States (Reftel A.) 
 
MANILA 00002098  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
--------------------------- 
Embassy Operations Restored 
--------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Management staff has fully restored Embassy compound power 
and communications.  All Embassy offices have reopened, and potable 
water will be available as soon as laboratory tests confirm its 
safety. 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Consular Section has received welfare and whereabouts 
inquiries on behalf of 96 American citizens believed to be stranded 
in various flood-stricken areas.  Staff have located and confirmed 
the well-being of 68 of these individuals, and provided information 
on the remaining 28 to the relevant local authorities and continue 
to follow up with them for information.  American Citizen Services 
(ACS) personnel continue to check casualty lists, attempting to 
identify American citizens.  ACS has issued a warden message 
regarding the next three tropical depressions headed for the 
Philippines. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Heavy Media Coverage of U.S. Efforts 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶12. (U) Most major media outlets prominently featured U.S. 
assistance to the victims of tropical storm Ondoy, highlighting the 
$100,000 donated and the participation of U.S. troops and rescue 
equipment.  Three major TV channels covered the Ambassador, USAID 
and U.S. military personnel distributing U.S.-purchased Philippine 
National Red Cross relief supplies at an evacuation center in Quezon 
City.  Photos of the Ambassador distributing food packets appeared 
in the country's eight major dailies, and the Ambassador was quoted 
describing additional U.S. equipment and personnel en route to the 
Philippines, as well as the diversion of resources from the joint 
Philippines-U.S. military Talon Vision/PHIBLEX exercises to relief 
efforts. 
 
------------------------- 
Super Typhoon On the Way? 
------------------------- 
 
¶13. (U) Packing sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) and 
gusts of over 230 kph, typhoon Pepeng (international name Parma)is 
scheduled to hit Luzon Saturday evening, according to Nathaniel 
Cruz, Deputy Director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and 
Astronomical services Administration (Pagasa).  Rains from the 
storm's outer rainbands are already falling in southern and central 
Luzon. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶14. (SBU) Averaging over 20 typhoons a year, the Philippines should 
be well versed in disaster response.  The current calamity 
demonstrates the limits of its disaster prevention and relief 
capabilities. 
 
Kenney