Banana exports may take a hit after 'Pablo' devastates farms

MANILA, Philippines -- The government plans to tap local banana farmers spared from typhoon Pablo to help fill up export quotas of traders devastated by the recent weather disturbance.

"Yun pong allocations natin sa local market, yun po ang pakikiusapan po natin. Ako po'y personal na makikiusap kung puwedeng gamitin muna sa kumpirmiso ng ating mga traders para wag tayong masira," Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala told ANC News Now on Thursday.

Alcala said his department foresees bananas as the most hit agriculture produce after typhoon Pablo ravaged southern Philippines.

Since most of the banana plantations in the provinces of typhoon-hit Bukidnon and Compostela Valley cater to export markets, Alcala said the government may need to ask for help from other local producers in filling up export quotas.

"Yung mga hindi tinamaan na may taniman ng bananas, yung gobyerno po ay makikipagnegotiate sa kanila para lang wag pong masira ang ating traders kasi baka later on hindi na po bumalik sa tin [ang buyers]," Alcala said.

Alcala pegs initial cost of damage to crops at P250 million to P300 million. Aside from bananas, typhoon Pablo also affected rice plantations, fishing communities, and irrigation infrastructure, the Agriculture chief said.

Typhoon Pablo has already killed 325 people and injured hundreds more, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Thursday morning. Meanwhile, 379 people have been reported missing.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Sagip Kapamilya accepts aid for 'Pablo' victims

MANILA, Philippines – ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya is accepting donations for the victims of typhoon “Pablo”, which devastated Mindanao on Tuesday.

Sagip Kapamilya will start receiving cash donations through the following bank accounts:

Peso Account
Bank Name: BANCO DE ORO
Bank Account No: 393- 011-4199
Bank Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. - Sagip Kapamilya
Branch: Sct. Albano, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

Dollar Account
Bank Name: BANCO DE ORO
Bank Account No: 393-008-1622
Bank Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. - Sagip Kapamilya
Branch: Sct. Albano, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

Peso Account
Bank Name: BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Bank Account No: 305-111-2775
Bank Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. - Sagip Kapamilya
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

Dollar Account
Bank Name: BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Bank Account No: 305-402-7035
Bank Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. - Sagip Kapamilya
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

Peso Account
Bank Name: PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK
Bank Account No: 419-539-5000-13
Bank Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. - Sagip Kapamilya
Branch: Timog, Quezon City
Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

Dollar Account
Bank Name: PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK
Account Number: 419-539-5000-21
Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Branch: Timog, Quezon City
Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

Peso Account
Bank Name: METROBANK
Account Number: 636-3-636-08808-1       
Account Name: ABS - CBN Foundation, Inc. - Sagip Kapamilya
Branch: Examiner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Please send a copy of the deposit/transaction slip to Telefax Number: 411-4995 or email us at sagip@abs-cbn.com including your NAME, ADDRESS, CONTACT NUMBER and TYPHOON NAME for verification and issuance of official receipt.

You may bring your cash or check donations directly to Sagip Kapamilya Warehouse at #13 Examiner Street West Triangle, Quezon City(between Quezon Avenue and West Avenue) from 8am-8pm. For inquiries please call telephone number (+00 63 2) 394-9272

Sagip Kapamilya will also start receiving in-kind donations from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (Monday-Sunday)

You may bring your in-kind donations directly to Sagip Kapamilya Warehouse at #13 Examiner Street West Triangle, Quezon City (between Quezon Avenue and West Avenue) from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

For inquiries please call the Sagip Kapamilya Hotline Numbers: 411-4995, 394-9272 and 0917-887-4411.

 source: abs-cbnnews.com

'Pablo' death toll climbs to 274 – NDRRMC

The death toll from typhoon “Pablo” has climbed to 274, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday.

NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said most of the deaths were caused by landslides and flashfloods, particularly in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, where the typhoon made landfall Tuesday morning.

Ramos said 339 people were reported injured while 279 are still missing.

A separate report from Interior and Local Secretary Mar Roxas, meanwhile, said 319 people are reported missing in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley alone.

Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 10th Infantry Division, said among the casualties in New Bataan were 4 soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division.

Twenty-three soldiers were hurt while 7 remain missing.

Paniza said the soldiers were helping residents cross a river when they were swept away by flashfloods.

“Nandoon sila sa area para mag-conduct ng rescue operation. ‘Yung kanilang company headquarters ay nasa lugar na ‘yun,” he told dzMM.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and other local officials described scenes of utter devastation with houses and other structures in some towns and villages ripped apart by Pablo, considered the most powerful storm to hit the country this year.

"There are very few structures left standing in the town of Cateel," she told AFP.

"We need to rush to these areas body bags, medicines, dry clothes and most importantly tents, because survivors are living out in the open after the typhoon blew away homes and rooftops."

Pablo weakens

Pablo (international name Bopha) slammed into Mindanao Tuesday morning, uprooting trees and blowing away homes with 210 kilometer per hour gusts.

But the typhoon weakened as it hit land, and is now packing winds of 120 kph and gusts of up to 150 kph.

PAGASA said the typhoon is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday night or early Friday.

It was last spotted 110 kilometers northwest of Roxas, Palawan.

Signal 3 is still up in northern Palawan and the Calamian group of islands. The rest of Palawan is under signal 2.

Signal 1 is hoisted over Occidental Mindoro.

Pablo is the 16th storm to hit the country this year. In December last year, Mindanao was also ravaged by tropical storm “Sendong”, which killed more than 1,200 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.-- With Agence France-Presse

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Signal no. 3 up in 7 areas due to 'Pablo'

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed seven provinces in Mindanao under storm warning signal number 3 as typhoon "Pablo" moves to make a landfall.

In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said storm warning signal number 3 has been hoisted in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental.

Areas under signal number 3 should expect winds of 101-185 kilometers per hour (kph) in at least 18 hours.

The following areas, meanwhile, have been placed under signal numbers 1 and 2:

Signal no. 2 (61-100 kph winds expected in at least 24 hours)

• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Camiguin
• Misamis Oriental
• Bukidnon
• Davao del Norte
• Compostela Valley

Signal no. 1 (45-60 kph winds expected in at least 36 hours)

• Eastern Samar
• Western Samar
• Leyte
• Biliran
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Antique
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• Zamboanga Provinces
• Lanao Provinces
• Davao del Sur
• North Cotabato
• Maguindanao

PAGASA said as of 12 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was located 490 km Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Pablo was still packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It also maintained its speed and direction, moving west northwest at 24 kph.

Pablo is expected to be at 30 kms east of Hinatuan on Tuesday. Pre-emptive evacuation is now being carried out in areas, particularly in Hinatuan's islands, where the typhoon is expected to unleash its force.

PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said after making a landfall in Surigao area, Pablo will cross the provinces of Agusan, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Bohol on Tuesday.

The typhoon will continue moving over Cebu, Negros and Panay provinces on Wednesday.

"Inaasahan na hihina si Pablo habang dumaraan siya sa Visayas area," he said.

Loiz noted that even if Pablo has yet to make a landfall, its outer cloud bands will already bring rains over eastern Visayas and eastern Mindanao on Monday afternoon.

Estimated rainfall is from 15 to 30 mm per hour (heavy - intense) within the typhoon's 600-km diameter.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal nos. 3 and 2 are alerted against big waves. Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

The Department of Education, meanwhile, is reminding everyone of the automatic suspension of classes when storm warning signals are raised.

Classes in preschool are automatically suspended when storm warning signal no. 1 is raised.

Classes from preschool to high school, meanwhile, are called off automatically when signal no. 2 is raised.

When signal no. 3 is hoisted, classes in all levels and work of DepEd employees are automatically suspended.

source: abs-cbnnews.com