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OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #0132/01 0220723
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 220723Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6333
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0367
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
RUEHRO/USMISSION UN ROME IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0001

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000132 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, HAITI TASK FORCE ONE 
BANGKOK FOR USAID /OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR A. DWYER 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA R. THAYER 
USAID W/ FOR ANE/AA AND DCHA/FPP 
USUN FOR OFDA REP 
BRUSSELS FOR P. BROWN 
SECDEF FOR SOLIC 
NSC FOR P. MARCHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID SOCI PREL PGOV KPAO HA RP
SUBJECT: TFHA01: PHILIPPINES SENDS DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS, PERSONNEL 
TO HAITI 
 
REFTELS:  A) State 4854 B) State 4208 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  The Philippines offered monetary assistance and 
disaster relief expertise to earthquake-stricken Haiti this week, 
with President Arroyo and the Philippine National Red Cross each 
approving USD 50,000 for humanitarian assistance.  A team of 21 
government doctors, nurses and engineers will join the almost 200 
United Nations Filipino peacekeepers already engaged in relief 
efforts there.  The Philippine press has covered the disaster 
accurately and extensively, and the Ambassador is using her farewell 
calls on media and senior public figures to discuss international 
humanitarian efforts in Haiti.  End Summary. 
------------------------------------- 
Philippines Sends Funds and Expertise 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U)  Tapping a deep  well of empathy for victims of natural 
disasters while demonstrating solidarity with international relief 
efforts, the Philippines this week offered civilian expertise and 
monetary assistance to help Haiti cope with the aftermath of the 
January 12 earthquake.  A team of 21 Department of Health (DoH) 
doctors, nurses, and engineers known as the 'Philippine Humanitarian 
Team for Haiti' will begin departing January 25 for Port au Prince. 
Post issued expedited transit visas to these team members, for whom 
Philippine Airlines is providing complimentary air travel.  Air 
express firm DHL is providing free shipping for 120 boxes of the 
team's supplies and equipment.  The DoH's Dr. Carmencita Banatin 
told us the government is coordinating specific aspects of the 
team's mission with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization.  President 
Arroyo this week approved the release of $50,000 to support Haiti 
relief efforts, while Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Chairman 
and presidential candidate Senator Richard Gordon announced that the 
organization would donate $50,000 for rescue operations.  Senator 
Gordon told us the PNRC has yet to decide whether to donate the 
funds to the U.S. Red Cross, the International Federation of Red 
Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or the Haiti Red Cross. 
 
 
--------------------------------------- 
President Conveys Empathy and Gratitude 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) President Arroyo on January 20 hosted a gathering of the 
diplomatic corps at Malacanang Palace to welcome the new year.  At 
the start of her formal remarks, Arroyo said her thoughts and 
prayers were with the Haitian people as they worked to recover from 
the devastating earthquake, and she hoped the countries of the world 
would all work together to help Haiti heal.  She said Filipinos knew 
how the Haitians felt because of the storms of late 2009, after 
which the international community came together to help Filipinos in 
a time of need.  She asked that the diplomatic representatives 
present convey to their governments and international organizations 
that Filipinos were deeply grateful for the civilian and military 
assistance that helped the Philippines get back on its feet.  She 
hoped that our combined efforts in Haiti would have the same effect 
there.  In a private aside following Arroyo's remarks, the 
Ambassador expressed appreciation for Philippine contributions to 
Haiti.  The President thanked the Ambassador "for what America is 
doing in Haiti" and said Filipinos "are proud to play our small 
part." 
 
 
¶4. (U) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for 
American Affairs Lourdes Yparraguirre told the Deputy Chief of 
Mission on January 20 that the Humanitarian Team (referenced above) 
would transit San Francisco and Santo Domingo and then convoy into 
Haiti under UN auspices.  The Philippine Ambassador to Cuba, who 
also covers Haiti, is already in Santo Domingo.  The Haitian and 
Dominican honorary consuls in Manila have provided visas to both the 
Philippine and an Indonesian relief team.  Yparraguirre noted that, 
in addition to the GRP and Philippine Red Cross donations, many 
churches were doing "second collections" for Haiti.  The DCM 
 
MANILA 00000132  002 OF 002 
 
 
discussed USG military relief efforts in the Philippines following 
the 2009 storms and emphasized the benefits to all concerned if the 
Philippines were to make a public statement about the value of such 
efforts.  Yparraguirre agreed with the point but did not commit to a 
public statement. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Philippine Peacekeepers Already on the Ground 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (U)  The Philippines has a significant force serving with the 
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).  Made up 
of 155 military, 15 police, and 2 military observers, they serve in 
the 10th Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent, which is assigned to 
the UN's Force Headquarters Security Unit in Port-au-Prince.  More 
than 1,500 Philippine troops have served in Haiti since first being 
deployed in 2005.  On January 3, Ambassador Hedi Annabi, the head of 
MINUSTAH (who died in the earthquake), presented the Philippine 
troops with the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal.  Annabi made 
special mention of six humanitarian projects the troops had 
undertaken outside of their normal responsibilities. 
 
¶6. (U) The Philippines is now mourning four of its nationals killed 
in the earthquake while serving in MINUSTAH.  Eustacio Bermudes Jr., 
Pearlie Panangui, and Janice Arocena were uniformed members of the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), while Jerome Yap was a 
civilian working for the peacekeeping mission.  Meanwhile, the AFP 
is preparing to respond to the UN's call for additional peacekeepers 
to deploy to Haiti.  AFP Spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner told 
Pol-Mil Chief that, in anticipation of a final decision by the UN 
and Philippine Government to send the troops, the 11th Philippine 
Peacekeeping Contingent is engaged in typical preparations involving 
equipment, medical checks, and other administrative arrangements. 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Accurate and Extensive Haiti Coverage by Local Media 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶7. (U) The Philippine press has accurately and extensively covered 
the disaster in Haiti, with no unfavorable mention of America's role 
and intentions there.  As of January 20, local newspapers continued 
to print large above-the-fold photographs of conditions in 
Port-au-Prince.  While the media has reported on conditions facing 
the Haitian population, it also has focused on the fate of Filipinos 
in Haiti, including the deaths noted above and efforts to account 
for all Philippine citizens (three of whom remain missing).  Media 
commentators have written frequently since the Haitian earthquake 
that the Philippines is earthquake-prone, and they have speculated 
about their own country's preparedness for a similar disaster.  The 
Ambassador is using her farewell calls on media and senior public 
figures, including the major daily Philippine Star and President 
Arroyo, to discuss international humanitarian efforts in Haiti, and 
the strong coalition of international partners working with the USG 
to help people in need. 
Kenney