UN reaffirms commitment to RP relief efforts

The United Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to the relief and rehabilitation efforts being conducted by the Philippine government in the wake of devastating cyclones "Ondoy" and "Pepeng." UN secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator John Holmes personally relayed the message to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during a meeting Monday afternoon. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Holmes expressed satisfaction over the efforts being done by the Philippine government through the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on the devastation caused by the two cyclones, which lashed the National Capital Region (NCR) and northern Luzon, respectively. Close to 600 people died in the two cyclones while damage in both agriculture and infrastructure reached billions in pesos. Remonde quoted Holmes as saying that Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the concurrent NDCC head, has “been doing a good job." President Arroyo, meanwhile, thanked Holmes for deploying his national disaster response advisor in Manila and another officer to the NDCC. Holmes reportedly said that the international response to the UN flash appeal for the Philippines has been “very good" but agreed that “there is a lot more to do." A flash appeal provides the framework for a common inter-agency understanding of needs and priorities based on the best information currently available and will be revised after a month, when it will present a more complete picture of current humanitarian needs and pace of recovery. During the meeting, President Arroyo apprised Holmes on the relocation efforts being done by her administration. Remonde said Holmes agreed that “relocation is the best thing to do." Holmes, for his part, noted the impact of climate change and urged the Philippines to find a way to adapt to it. President Arroyo said the Philippines is negotiating for finances that would be used for climate change adaptation. Remonde said President Arroyo also informed Holmes of the government actions against climate change, including her regular visits to different provinces to inform local government units of their obligations under the law to mitigate the effects of the phenomena. In holmes speech last Oct. 6 at the UN during the briefing on Asia-Pacific disasters, he praised the Philippine government for its “swift response" and for immediately undertaking search, rescue and relief operations for Ondoy victims. He organized a $7.4-million flash appeal for the Philippines. He however noted that local and national capacities to continue the effort “need to be supplemented." From the Philippines, Holmes is set to fly next to Indonesia, which was recently ravaged by an earthquake. - GMANews.TV