PIA 6/21/2008 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, accompanied by LtGen Pedrito Cadungog, Philippine Air Force (right) and Press Secretary Jessus Dureza (left) during an inspection of the Preparedness Disaster Team for typhoon Frank at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City. (Marcelino Pascua/NIB/OPS)

OPS 21 JUNE 2008

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left last night for the United States for her 10-day visit to California, Washington and New York. The 10-day working visit will be highlighted by her one-on-one meeting with President George W. Bush.

But before she left at 10:30 last night on board a Philippine Airline plane the President called a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council at noon wherein she issued the following instructions:

• Put the whole Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government into a relief-and-rescue standby mode.

• Ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways into a repair-and-rehabilitation footing so work on damaged infrastructure can begin once the weather clears up.

• The Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare and Development shall forward-deploy resources to areas on typhoon path. By law, Calamity Funds have been advanced to DND, DPWH and DSWD, which means that the tools to provide care and comfort have been prepositioned in our first responders.

• The Air Force, including the Presidential Airlift Wing, are under orders to fly mercy missions, when the need arises.

President Arroyo also ordered Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap to ensure stable rice supply in affected areas. “If Frank will bring flood, Art will respond by flooding these areas with rice. If they will exploit the situation, hoarders will soon find themselves in hot water, a certainty Sec. Raul Gonzales will guarantee,” the President said.

The President has also instructed the Pink Brigade of the Metro Manila Development Authority “to rush to areas that might be damaged by the storm. Army engineers, with their heavy equipment, will roll out and join the bayanis of Bayani Fernando in their mercy caravan.”

After the NDCC meeting, the President dropped by Villamor Air Base and inspected the aircraft and the airmen on standby. “We designated VAB as operations center, a springboard for help,” she said.

“With or without the typhoon, but the latter would make it urgent, the distribution of power subsidies will commence in areas the typhoon will hit, in a manner that will not overburden government officials attending to relief work,” the President said.

PIA 6/21/2008 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, accompanied by DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral (2nd from right), LtGen Pedrito Cadungog, Philippine Air Force (right) and Press Secretary Jessus Dureza (left) during an inspection of the Preparedness Disaster Team for typhoon Frank at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City. (Marcelino Pascua/NIB/OPS)

OPS 21 JUNE 2008

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered all units of the Philippine National Police to prepare for disaster rescue and relief operations in areas affected by Typhoon Frank (international codename Fengshen).

PNP Chief, Director General Avelino I Razon Jr. said the President ordered him to reactivate the Oplan "Sagip", the disaster management and response plan of the PNP.

In compliance with the President’s directive, Razon said he already ordered all Police Regional Offices in areas affected by Typhoon Frank in Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Southern and Central Mindanao, Caraga Region, Bicol Region, Southern Luzon, and Metro Manila to prepare for disaster rescue and relief operations.

He said all PNP units on these areas were given orders to closely coordinate with local government units (LGU') for implementation of their respective disaster management plans.

"I have ordered all regional directors in affected regions to exercise their authority as chairman of their respective Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (RDCC) in spearheading all disaster management operations," Razon said.

Razon assured the President that his regional directors will ensure the availability of all personnel and resources to assist in rescue, evacuation and relief operations. These include police vehicles with lift capability that can be used in evacuation operations such as heavy trucks, troop carriers, and patrol vehicles.

The Special Action Force and Maritime Group which have units that specialize in disaster operations are on standby alert for possible deployment to affected areas.

Razon also alerted the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to assist local PNP units in monitoring market activities in coordination with local offices of the Department of Trade and Industry and government units to prevent unscrupulous traders, hoarders and profiteers from taking advantage of the emergency situation.

OPS 21 JUNE 2008

• Before we leave home tonight for the United States, we called a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council this noon wherein we issued the following instructions:

1. Put the whole Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government into a relief-and-rescue standby mode.

2. We ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways into a repair-and-rehabilitation footing so work on damaged infrastructure can begin once the weather clears up.

3. The Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare and Development shall forward-deploy resources to areas on typhoon path. By law, Calamity Funds have been advanced to DND, DPWH and DSWD, which means that the tools to provide care and comfort have been prepositioned in our first responders.

4. The Air Force, including the Presidential Airlift Wing, are under orders to fly mercy missions, when the need arises.

5. Sec. Arthur Yap has been ordered to ensure stable rice supply in affected areas. If Frank will bring flood, Art will respond by flooding these areas with rice. If they will exploit the situation, hoarders will soon find themselves in hot water, a certainty Sec. Raul Gonzales will guarantee.

6. I have also instructed the Pink Brigade of the Metro Manila Development Authority to rush to areas that might be damaged by the storm. Army engineers, with their heavy equipment, will roll out and join the bayanis of Bayani Fernando in their mercy caravan.

7. We dropped by Villamor Air Based and inspected the aircraft and the airmen on standby. We designated VAB as operations center, a springboard for help.

8. With our without the typhoon, but the latter would make it urgent, the distribution of power subsidies will commence in areas the typhoon will hit, in a manner that will not overburden government officials attending to relief work.

• The United States is the Philippines' strongest friend and ally. Filipinos love America, its people and culture. We may be separated by an ocean, but we are bound by a shared history and common values of economic prosperity and a strong democracy. The relations between the US and the Philippines are stable, strong and mature.

• Our friendship goes well beyond simple diplomatic relations between nations. Over 4 million American citizens are of Filipino heritage. Over 250,000 Americans live and work in the Philippines. We are more than allies; we are family.

• During our West Coast visit, we will meet with our Filam and OFW community to discuss their needs and concerns. Not a day goes by that our administration is not fighting for the interests of our OFWs somewhere in the world.

• In Washington, we will be meeting with President Bush and members of his administration as well as political leaders of both parties in the US Congress. We share many issues that are of global concern, beginning with the price of food and fuel and food security. As such, discussions will focus on food security, defense cooperation, environmental protection and economic assistance.

• On food security, the agreement between our two governments will lay the groundwork for securing the following: a) hastening phytosanitary protocols that will open the way for fresh banana and mango exports from the Philippines to the US starting with an initial shipment of $5 million , then $15 million, and growing in the years to come; b) biotechnology cooperation especially in the development of disease tolerant rice seeds varieties through a $1.5 million grant; c) accelerated dairy development program which plans to infuse 10,000 dairy animals in the next five years worth $25 million; d) increased rice supply purchase agreements through the Public Law 480 of at least $20 million and General Services Manager 102 Program of at least $70 million, e) a proposed surplus equipment program of $50 million, extension service capacity building program of $25 million and accelerated liverstock genetic resource improvement program of $25 million.

• On defense cooperation, we will discuss military platform spares; radars; patrol crafts, ships, inshore vessels and gunboats; military education and training, rigid hull inflatable boars, radios, surveillance aircrafts, spare parts, radars, patrol crafts, ships and boats, training, radios, surveillance aircraft, among others worth about $458 million.

• On environmental protection, we are targeting at least $20 million from the Coral Triangle Initiative.

• On economic assistance, having been approved as a Compact country, the Philippines will produce a Compact proposal which may be eligible for a grant close to $700 million.

• I will thank those members of the US Senate who voted 96-1 to support our Philippine veterans who served valiantly in WWII. This strong vote is an indication of the long overdue desire to bring equity and justice to Filipino veterans who fought under the American flag. The Philippine veteran provision is part of a much larger bill. It is currently caught up in domestic US politics. While its immediate fate remains unknown, we will meet with congressional leaders to fight for passage to ensure equity for Philippine veterans of WWII. The Filipino veterans provision creates about $250 million in new benefits over 10 years.

• Finally, in New York we will meet with numerous investors and business leaders to promote more investment and job creation in the Philippines.

• We will meet with Target Sourcing which buys $70 million annually from the Philippines. Their new cosmetic care line in virgin coconut oil estimated at $25 million for 2008 will benefit 1,500 small and medium enterprises in Manila and Quezon.

• We expect a long term, 35-year supply contract with Libby's to earn over $500 million for more than 5,000 farming families in Bicol.

• We will meet with IQOR Call Center with annual billings earnings of $50 million in the Philippines, APAC Customer Services with $100 million. We will encourage them to expand their investment. Orbis Global Solutions will invest an initial 1,800 seats with billings of $20,000 per agent.

• We will meet with Bertaphil which will invest a minimum of $1 million in Clark and minimum guaranteed lease revenues of $919 thousand and additional 3-10% gross rental revenues from sublessees over a 50-year period.

• We will meet with ROTEC which will install $10 million of envirodiesel design device on initial 10,000 jeepneys to reduce greenhouse gases in Metro Manila.

• We will meet with Abundant Biofuels who will invest $200 million in Northern Mindanao.

• In our infrastructure meeting with investors and business leaders, we will promote 10 ready-to-go projects, six of which are valued at $1.377 billion.

• We will also be meeting with officials from the United Nations about issues related to food security and to champion the candidacy of Senator Santiago to the Court of Justice. No trip to New York is complete without meeting with our strong and lively OFW community there.

• The Philippine-US relationship is essential for a strong, growing and stable Philippines. We are looking forward to our talks in order to advance the interests of the Philippines and further deepen our historic ties.

• We will return via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III for our arrival cum inspection of our newest gateway.

OPS 21 JUNE 2008

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo mobilizes today all government line agencies to offer a helping hand to the people affected by land slides and flashfloods as typhoon Frank (international codename: Fengshen) strikes the country.

The President issued her directive as she presided over the emergency meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) this afternoon at the conference room of the Department of National Defense in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the meeting was attended by the leaders of all concerned agencies such as the Department of Public works and Highways, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, and other line agencies involved in the quick response operations during calamities and emergency situations.

Dureza said the President is taking a personal hand and putting in place the needed mechanisms and measures to address the situation.

During the emergency meeting, Dureza divulged that all government agencies were instructed by the President to stockpile relief goods, and place on alert all state-run hospitals.

In a press briefing held at the Kalayaan Lounge at the Villamor Air Base right after the President inspected the stockpiles of relief goods scheduled to be transport to all affected provinces and municipalities, Dureza said the President instructed the DILG to be on standby for the rescue and relief operations.

He added that the President also obliged the DPWH to prepare its men and equipments for the repair of the damaged infrastructure facilities, and clearing operations of the roads submerged by landslides and flashfloods, as soon as the weather improves.

The President also ordered the DA to conduct an immediate assessment on the extent of damage wrought to the agriculture industry by typhoon Frank.

On the part of DSWD, Secretary Esperanza Cabral told the President that the provincial disaster coordinating council and its regional offices are now ready to help the displaced families after their houses were washed away by landslides and flashfloods.

According to report, at least 12 people were confirmed dead and thousands of others were evacuated as typhoon Frank strikes.

Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Julieto Ando said at least five houses were destroyed after the Risao River in the town of Upi in Southern Maguindanao province overflowed.

He reported that 10 people drowned while at least eight others were missing, a landslide buried several houses at a slum area in Cotabato City, killing two people. Four farmers, meanwhile, were reported missing nearby, he added.

Because of the continued heavy rains, roads connecting the southern cities of Cotabato and General Santos were flooded, while a concrete bridge collapsed, isolating some villages and towns.

As of press time, typhoon Frank forced over 200,000 people to seek temporary shelters in the eastern Bicol region, the civil defense office said.

Early on Saturday Frank was tracking a west-northwest direction, packing winds of 140 kilometers (87 miles) an hour.

OPS 22 JUNE 2008

SAN FRANCISCO – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today immediately buckled down to work as she called and reconvened the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) for her to be able to know firsthand information on the latest developments on the damage wrought by Typhoon “Frank” in Metro Manila and other provinces affected by the super typhoon.

The Chief Executive -- who is visibly concerned about the situation in the Philippines due to the super howler -- made this move shortly upon her arrival at the Presidential Suite of the Fairmont Hotel here where she is billeted.

The President, accompanied by First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo and other members of her official delegation, arrived at the San Francisco International Airport at exactly 7:20 p.m. (San Francisco time) as she commenced the first leg of her 10-day, three state working visit to the United States.

Upon the President’s order, the NDCC immediately met at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, together with Cabinet members, as well as action officers from concerned agencies.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the President personally touched base with the NDCC officials through a teleconference at her suite in Fairmont Hotel in the presence of some Cabinet members led by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Rep. Monico Puentebella, and himself, among others.

He added that the NDCC officials and concerned agency representatives gave the President “all the updates on the specific instructions she gave when she called for the NDCC meeting yesterday before leaving for the U.S.”

Dureza pointed out that the specific instructions of the President is to continue updating her on the developments of the super typhoon “kasi may mga areas pa na problemado.”

He cited that since Metro Manila is under typhoon Signal #3, the C-130 that could have carried life boats and other rescue materials was not able to take off.

Dureza noted that the President’s instruction “is to mount an operation center, logistic center there in Cebu, nearer to the area using the facilities that are available there in Cebu for the moment until we can mount our flights from Villamor Airbase.”

During the teleconference, Dureza said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was so concerned about the reported Sulpicio vessel that capsized.

According to him, the President pointedly asked the Coast Guard representative whether there “were violations of notices issued to vessels and for them to look closely on how they could undertake more rescue operations now.”

“The report given to her was that one of the survivors was fished out quite far from the site where the (Sulpicio) vessel was supposed to have capsized. So they have now indicated a new area where they would start trying to make recovery operations with the coast guard.”

The Department of Agriculture (DA) also reported to the President that an initial 250,000 hectares were damaged by the super typhoon.

In this connection, Dureza said the President directed the DA to undertake continuous and increased distribution of assistance to the farmers for them to recover as soon as possible.

With the still bad condition of the power situation in the Visayas particularly in Panay with only two percent been renergized , Dureza said, the President instructed Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to attend to this immediately.

The Red Cross, through Senator Richard Gordon, reported that it is already on the ground providing the necessary assistance.

Dureza also announced that the President will again hold another NDCC meeting though teleconferencing tomorrow (June 22) at 4: a.m. (Philippine time) to ensure that she will be able to continuously be informed on the latest situation in the Philippines.

“She would like to do this before she takes off for Washington DC tomorrow,” he said.

Asked whether the President would be cutting short her trip to the United States, Dureza said, “No, there’s no talk about cutting short her trip. That’s why she would like to continuously be hands-on here, kaya she’s getting the NDCC action as if she’s personally there in the area.”

OPS 22 JUNE 2008

Partial Transcript of PGMA Teleconference from San Francisco, California, USA with the National Disaster Coordination Council (NDCC) based in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City (June 22, 2008)

…ON TO ROMBLON AND THEN ON TO MINDORO AND THE SUCCEEDING … YESTERDAY MORNING, MADAM PRESIDENT, AT 11 O’CLOCK,  WE AGAIN MADE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE … THE TYPHOON WOULD BE MOVING MORE OR LESS TOWARDS THE BATANGAS- SOUTHERN QUEZON AREA.    PGMA YESTERDAY, I WAS WITH …   YES MA’AM, YES MA’AM… PGMA AT 12:30  AND I THINK IT WAS IN BATAAN AND MINDORO.   THAT WAS NOT 11 AM  AND WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS…  ANOTHER… IT’S TOWARDS MINDORO, MA’AM, AND IT WAS IN THE FOLLOWING  BULLETIN, AND THE NEXT BULLETIN ISSUED EARLY IN THE MORNING, THIS MORNING RATHER, MA’AM, EARLY THIS MORNING… PGMA ALSO BEFORE WE LEFT?   SO WE MADE AGAIN SOME ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE DATA WOULD INDICATE THAT IT WILL BE HEADING  TOWARDS BATANGAS OR CAVITE AND SOUTHERN QUEZON; AND SO WE GAVE THE PREDICTED PATH  TO PASS THROUGH THAT AREA,  AND THEN PASS THROUGH TO THE EAST OF METRO MANILA AREA AND HEAD TOWARDS PANGASINAN,  CROSSING CENTRAL LUZON. AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, MA’AM.   PGMA WHERE’S THE EYE NOW?    AS OF 10:00 O’CLOCK, MA’AM, THE EYE OF THE TYPHOON IS AT THE VICINITY OF  CLARK IN PAMPANGA, AND IS TO BE EXPECTED TO BE OVER PANGASINAN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON, MA’AM. PGMA OKAY.   …HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 120 KM PER HOUR FROM… PGMA …WHAT IS THE STRONGEST?   THE STRONGEST IS 150 KM PER HOUR. SO FAR, MA’AM, IT WOULD BE IN LUZON MAINLAND. THE HIGHEST REGISTERED INITIAL DATA INDICATE THAT THE HIGHEST REGISTERED IS 120 KM PER HOUR.      PGMA IN THE WHOLE PATH, WHAT IS THE HIGHEST?   170 KM PER HOUR IN ROXAS. PGMA OKAY. SO THE HARDEST HIT IS ROXAS?   YES, THAT’S CORRECT, MA’AM. AND SO IT IS PREDICTED TO MOVE IN NORTH-NORTHWEST DIRECTION AT 15KM PER HOUR. PGMA SO IT HAS PASSED MANILA ALREADY?   YES, MA’AM, BUT WE ARE STILL AFFECTED BECAUSE THE TYPHOON IS QUITE BIG SO WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING SOME GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS IN THE METRO MANILA AREA; AND SIGNAL NO. 3 IS UP IN BATANGAS, LAGUNA, CAVITE, RIZAL, NORTHERN QUEZON, SOUTHERN AURORA, BULACAN PAMPANGA, TARLAC, PANGASINAN, ZAMBALES, BENGUET, LA UNION, BATAAN AND METRO MANILA; AND SIGNAL NO. 2 IS UP IN THE PROVINCES OF MINDORO,  INCLUDING LUBANG ISLAND, MARINDUQUE, BONDOC, POLILIO ISLAND AND THE REST OF AURORA, QUIRINO, NUEVA VIZCAYA, IFUGAO, MT. PROVINCE AND ILOCOS SUR; AND SIGNAL NO. 1 IN CALAMIAN GROUP IN NORTHERN  PALAWAN, ROMBLON, CAMARINES NORTE, ISABELA, CAGAYAN, APAYAO, ABRA , KALINGA AND ILOCOS NORTE.          PGMA STILL MOVING PA UNTIL NOW?   STILL QUITE SLOW, MA’AM, AT 15 KM PER HOUR. PGMA SAME AS YESTERDAY?   YES, MA’AM, YES, MA’AM. AS FAR AS THE MAJOR DAMS IN LUZON, AS OF 10:00 O’CLOCK THIS MORNING, IPO DAM IN BULACAN OPENED ITS GATES AND IT’S SPILLING ABOUT 9 CUBIC METERS PER SECOND. EXCESS WATER FROM IPO DAM IS NOT TOO MUCH, MA’AM, AND ALL THE OTHER DAMS -- ANGAT, SAN ROQUE, BINGA, AMBUKLAO… PGMA RELEASING WATER FROM THE DAMS  IS NOT ALSO A…?     NO, MA’AM, IT’S NOT REALLY SIGNIFICANT. THE VOLUME BEING SPILLED BY IPO DAM AND ALL THE OTHER DAMS IN MAJOR DAMS IN LUZON STILL HAVE ENOUGH… TO ABSORB FLOOD WATERS CAUSED BY THE TYPHOON. PGMA OKAY.   AND WE HAVE ISSUED THE APPROPRIATE ADVISORY DOWNSTREAM OF IPO DAM AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE PAMPANGA WATER BASIN JUST IN CASE THERE WILL BE FLOODING, MA’AM. PGMA OKAY.     ... IN SUMMARY, TYPHOON FRANK PASSED THE NEAREST DISTANCE. IT PASSED METRO MANILA, WAS 20 KM TO THE EAST AT AROUND 4 O’CLOCK OR 4:30 THIS MORNING.  PGMA (INAUDIBLE)   TO THE EAST OF METRO MANILA, MA’AM. IT DID NOT ACTUALLY… THE CENTER DID NOT ACTUALLY PASS OVER METRO MANILA. PGMA SO, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE EYE…    THE EYE, MA’AM. AND, AS I’VE SAID, THE INITIAL DATA AVAILABLE AS FAR AS METRO MANILA IS CONCERNED --  REGISTERED AT OUR STATION IN THE AIRPORT -- IS 100KM PER HOUR. WE WILL BE EXPECTING IN AREAS SOUTH OF THE LOCATION OF THE TYPHOON THAT THE SOUTHWEST MONSOON OR ‘HABAGAT’  WOULD STRENGTHEN AND CAUSE A LOT OF RAINS AND THAT THERE MAY BE A CHANCE FOR A STRONG STORM TO OCCUR IN THE WESTERN COAST OF CENTRAL LUZON AND THE WESTERN COAST OF NORTHERN LUZON, MA’AM.    PGMA SO THEY ARE NOW OUT OF DANGER OF STORM SURGE. OKAY. GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. SO NOW WE HAVE TO GIVE OUT  A WARNING FOR CENTRAL LUZON ?   YES, MA’AM, BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE FLOODING… IN AREAS COVERED BY THE PAMPANGA RIVER BASIN, WE HAVE ALREADY ISSUED THE APPROPRIATE ADVISORY, MA’AM, AS I’VE INDICATED EARLIER, AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF LANDSLIDES IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF CENTRAL LUZON, INCLUDING QUEZON PROVINCE, AS WELL AS THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF CORDILLERAS, MA’AM. THERE’S THE POSSIBILITY OF LANDSLIDES IN THOSE AREAS BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY RAINS. AS FAR AS SEA TRAVEL IS CONCERNED, THE SORSOGON TO SAMAR… THE SIGNALS HAVE BEEN LIFTED SO SEA TRAVEL CAN RESUME, BUT FOR THE ALBAY, CATANDUANES (ROUTES), WE STILL HAVE STORM SIGNALS SO SEA TRAVEL CANNOT RESUME ALONG THAT ROUTE, MA’AM.      PGMA SO THE VESSEL LEFT EVEN AFTER THE WARNING. SO THEY LEFT MANILA FRIDAY.   YES, MA’AM, WE  WERE PROJECTING THE TYPHOON WAS GOING TOWARDS SOUTHERN LUZON AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SHIP, THAT THE DESTINATION WAS CEBU, MA’AM.  PGMA IS THERE A VIOLATION OF THE WARNING?   WE HAVE THE COAST GUARD REPRESENTATIVE HERE, MA’AM. PGMA  WHEN DID YOU ISSUE THE WARNING AND WHEN  DID THEY  LEAVE MANILA?   COME AGAIN, MA’AM? PGMA SULPICIO…?   YES MA’AM, BECAUSE WE WERE PROJECTING THAT THE TYPHOON WAS GOING TO… TOWARDS SOUTHERN LUZON. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SHIP WAS THE… THE DESTINATION WAS CEBU, MA’AM. PGMA …ON THE WARNINGS?   …WE HAVE THE COAST GUARD REPRESENTATIVE HERE, MA’AM… PGMA WHEN DID YOU ISSUE THE WARNING AND WHEN DID THEY LEAVE MANILA?   AS EARLY AS ON WEDNESDAY, MA’AM, WE HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT THE TYPHOON WOULD BE MOVING TOWARDS SOUTHERN LUZON, MA’AM. PGMA THE WARNING OF NO-SEA TRAVEL?   YES, MA’AM, YES MA’AM. SIGNALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RAISED MA’AM… PGMA LAST WEDNESDAY?   YES MA’AM, THAT’S RIGHT.   MADAM PRESIDENT, THE COAST GUARD COMMANDANT ARNEL TAMAYO IS GOING TO BE ON LINE, MA’AM… PGMA OKAY. TAMAYO MADAM PRESIDENT, GOOD MORNING, MA’AM. PGMA … TAMAYO MA’AM. I’D LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE VESSEL DEPARTED THE PORT OF MANILA WITH A SIGNAL NO. 1 HOISTED AND IT DID NOT VIOLATE ANY REVISED GUIDELINE ON THE MOVEMENT OF VESSELS, SINCE… PGMA IT DID NOT VIOLATE ANY GUIDELINES? TAMAYO YES MA’AM, IT DID NOT BECAUSE IT’S A BIG VESSEL, GROSS TONS IS 23,829 AND… PGMA …IT HAPPENED? TAMAYO MA’AM, THE REPORT THAT WE RECEIVED INITIALLY IS THAT THE VESSEL HAD DEVELOPED SOME ENGINE TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY AND WHICH RESULTED TO HER BEING DEAD ON WATER AND I SURMISE, MA’AM, THAT  THE SHIP WAS BUFFETED BY BIG WAVES WHICH LED  HER TO CAPSIZE  EVENTUALLY. PGMA WHEN THE WARNING HAPPENED… BUT YOU ISSUED A WARNING OF NO VESSELS, RIGHT.  HAVE YOU ISSUED A WARNING OF NO SMALL VESSELS, RIGHT? AND SO, NO SMALL VESSEL… TAMAYO MA’AM, THE REVISED GUIDELINES POINT TO THE FACT THAT THE WARNING IS GRADUATED IN THE SENSE THAT SMALLER VESSELS CANNOT… PGMA …YOU NEVER ISSUED THE WARNING AGAINST VESSELS? ALL VESSELS? TAMAYO WE DID MA’AM. WE DID GIVE THEM NOTICE OF THE ADVISORY, THE WEATHER ADVISORY AND… PGMA WHEN? TAMAYO ANO MA’AM… ALL VESSELS… WE GIVE THEM DAILY ACTUAL STORM SIGNAL, MA’AM. PGMA WHEN? TAMAYO FRIDAY, MA’AM.  FRIDAY NIGHT. PGMA OH WELL, FRIDAY…. IN MANILA? TAMAYO ACTUALLY, MA’AM, WE BROADCASTED THAT ALSO IN THE MEDIA, AND WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE VESSELS THAT ARE LESS THAN 1,000 GROSS TONS… ARE ACTUALLY BASED ON THE DISCRETION OF THE SHIPPING…  2,000 GROSS TONS,  MA’AM… PGMA WHEN DID YOU ISSUE THE ALL-VESSELS WARNING? TAMAYO WE ISSUED THAT, MA’AM, ALMOST EVERYDAY OCCASION…  MA’AM, WE ISSUE THEM… WE STARTED THAT, MA’AM, WAY BACK EVEN… PGMA …TO ALL VESSELS? ALL-VESSELS WARNING… TAMAYO YES, MA’AM, WE… THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED, MA’AM, ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS TO ALL VESSELS, MA’AM. PGMA WHEN NGA? WHEN DID YOU ISSUE THE WARNING THAT NO VESSELS  CAN GO OUT? THAT’S WHAT I MEAN. TAMAYO WE STARTED, MA’AM, ABOUT  2 WEEKS AGO BEFORE THE VESSELS  DEPART. PGMA WHO ISSUED THE ORDER THAT NO VESSEL CAN GET OUT? TAMAYO YES, MA’AM. WE TELL THEM.  WE TELL THEM WHICH VESSEL CANNOT GO OUT AT A CERTAIN STRONG SIGNAL, MA’AM PGMA WERE (THERE) NO VESSELS AT ALL (THAT) CAN GO OUT? DID YOU EVER ISSUE THAT WARNING, WHEN? TAMAYO AT 11:30, MA’AM, WE ISSUED THE WARNING.  11:30 AT NIGHT,  MA’AM. PGMA WHEN? TAMAYO AH.. IN MANILA… IN THE PORT OF MANILA, MA’AM. PGMA WHEN? TAMAYO AH, THAT’S LAST FRIDAY, MA’AM.  LAST FRIDAY. PGMA WAS THAT 11:30 AM? TAMAYO 11:30 AM, MA’AM. PGMA WHEN DID THE BOAT LEAVE MANILA? TAMAYO THEY LEFT MANILA AT 20:00 MA’AM, THAT IS 8 O’CLOCK PM,  MA’AM. PGMA OH, SO, WHY DID THEY (LEAVE) AFTER THE WARNING? TAMAYO YES, MA’AM, THAT THIS PARTICULAR VESSEL OF THAT SIZE,  MA’AM, CAN PROCEED… PGMA …WHEN? WHEN DID YOU ISSUE THE WARNING WHERE NO VESSEL AT ALL OF ANY SIZE CAN GO OUT? TAMAYO MA’AM , IN THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT, MA’AM, VESSELS OF MORE THAN… PGMA …YOU NEVER ISSUED A WARNING THAT NO VESSELS CAN GO OUT? TAMAYO …. MA’AM, WE ISSUED THE WARNING AT 11:30 PM, MA’AM, BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR VESSEL MA’AM IS NOT COVERED IN THAT PARTICULAR… PGMA I’M SAYING, WHEN DID YOU ISSUE THE WARNING OVER ALL VESSELS? TAMAYO YES, MA’AM, WE ISSUED (THAT) TO ALL VESSELS, MA’AM. PGMA WHEN? TAMAYO AH, FRIDAY, MA’AM, 11:30PM BUT… PGMA WHEN DID THEY GO OUT? TAMAYO 8…8 P.M., MA’AM. PGMA OKAY… NOW… WHERE WERE THEY ARE… ON 11:30… WHEN YOU ISSUED THE WARNING? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW… ONLY IN BATANGAS, THEY COULD HAVE SOUGHT SHELTER IN BATANGAS PORT?  TAMAYO ACTUALLY, MA’AM, WE DID NOT MISS ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, ON ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT ABOUT SHIPS LEAVING  THE PORT. THEY ARE ADEQUATELY COVERED BY THE GUIDELINES OF OUR… PGMA NO, YOU SHOULD HAVE  ISSUED  A  WARNING. TAMAYO YES, MA’AM, WE DID ISSUE THEM WARNING. ALL VESSELS,   MA’AM, WE ISSUED WARNING TO ALL VESSELS, MA’AM. PGMA … TAMAYO …HAS NOT ACTUALLY VIOLATED ANY OF OUR GUIDELINES MA’AM, BECAUSE… PGMA … TAMAYO … FROM PAG-ASA AT 11PM ONLY, MA’AM… PARTICULAR… PGMA AT 11PM? TAMAYO YES, MA’AM. PGMA … TAMAYO YES, MA’AM, BECAUSE… PGMA (INAUDIBLE) TAMAYO YES, MA’AM, THAT’S THE DISCRETION OF THE CAPTAIN.  BUT  AT THE TIME THAT SHE LEFT MA’AM, SHE HAS NOT VIOLATED  ANY OF OUR GUIDELINES BECAUSE HER SIZE PERMITS HER TO PROCEED, MA’AM.  THE SIZE OF 33,829 GROSS TONS,  MA’AM. PGMA … NIB Special Action Group/AVA (PND-OPS)

OPS 22 JUNE 2008

SAN FRANCISCO – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived today on board a Philippine Airlines commercial flight from Manila at exactly 7:30 p.m. (San Francisco time) at the San Francisco International Airport here as she commenced the first leg of her 10-day 3 state working visit to the United States.

The Chief Executive, garbed in an apple green blazer and black pants, was accompanied by First Gentleman, Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo and other members of her official delegation. They were welcomed by officials of the Philippine Consular Office in San Francisco led by Consul General Marciano Paynor, Jr.

After the simple welcome ceremony, the President was immediately whisked to the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco where she is staying overnight.

The following day, Sunday (June 22), the President flies to Fresno in California to start the first leg of her working visit by visiting the Community Regional Medical Center there.

Shortly upon her arrival at the Medical Center, President Macapagal-Arroyo will be officially welcomed by its president and public affairs director John Taylor.

She will then conduct a brief tour of the center’s medical facilities and will also have a brief interaction with the Filipino medical professionals working in the area.

Immediately after a photo opportunity with the Filipino medical professionals, the President will then proceed to the Fresno International Convention Center, where she will attend a Mass with the members of the Filipino community.

OPS 22 JUNE 2008

Employing all the available means of communication at her disposal, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo convened the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) through teleconferencing this afternoon to issue last minute directives and to be kept abreast on the status of typhoon "Frank's" devastation on the country, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today.

Upon her arrival at San Francisco, California, the first leg of her 10-day working visit to the United States, Dureza said the President spoke to NDCC members who were waiting for her at the agency's headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

"The President is so concerned about the situation there. Immediately upon arriving here in San Francisco, she convened the NDCC to be able to be personally informed of the situation there," Dureza said.

Dureza added that the President was particularly concerned about the rescue and relief operations being conducted on the Sulpicio Lines marine vessel Princess of the Stars that reportedly capsized off the waters of Sibuyan Island near the province of Romblon during the height of 'Frank's' fury last night.

According to reports, the M/V Princess of the Stars, which carried around 700 passengers and crew, developed engine trouble on its way to Cebu from Manila, then stalled and drifted near Sibuyan Island where it was battered by giant waves brought about by 'Frank.'

Rescue and relief efforts that were supposed to be undertaken by the Coast Guard were hampered because of the bad weather.

Dureza said the President instructed the NDCC and other concerned government agencies to mount an operation and logistics center in Cebu so that immediate rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations can be immediately organized from an area that is not directly affected by the typhoon's wrath.

He cited the inability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) C-130 cargo aircraft loaded with relief supplies and personnel to immediately leave the vicinity of the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City to reach affected provinces due to strong rains and wind brought by "Frank."

He added that the President instructed the Department of Agriculture "to undertake continuous and upscaling of distribution of assistance to farmers" whose farmlands have been damaged by typhoon 'Frank's" onslaught.

He said that based on an initial update made by the DA some 250,000 hectares of farmlands in the Visayas and Central Luzon were badly damaged and unplantable because of 'Frank.'

Dureza also said the President directed Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to work with power companies in immediately "re-energizing" areas without electricity.

Dureza said the President is talking a very hands-on approach to the situation and will reconvene the NDCC again tomorrow morning at 3:00 a.m. at Malacanang's Kalayaan Hall "before she leaves for her next US engagement in Washington, DC."

He added that the President was assured by officer-in-charge Vice President Noli de Castro that everything was taken cared off and did not see any reason to "cut short" her trip to the United States.

"There's no talk about cutting the trip short," Dureza said adding, "the President is confident the machinery of government will respond (to the situation) adequately and that she is on top of the situation even if she is physically here (in the US)."

OPS 22 JUNE 2008

Before we leave home tonight for the United States, we called a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) this noon wherein we issued the following instructions:

1. Put the whole Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) into a relief-and-rescue standby mode.

2. We ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) into a repair-and-rehabilitation footing so work on damaged infrastructure can begin once the weather clears up.

3. The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall forward-deploy resources to areas on typhoon path. By law, Calamity Funds have been advanced to DND, DPWH and DSWD, which means that the tools to provide care and comfort have been pre-positioned in our first responders.

4. The Philippine Air Force (PAF), including the Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW), are under orders to fly mercy missions, when the need arises.

5. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has been ordered to ensure stable rice supply in affected areas. If Typhoon ‘Frank’ will bring flood, Art will respond by flooding these areas with rice. If they will exploit the situation, hoarders will soon find themselves in hot water, a certainty Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales will guarantee.

6. I have also instructed the Pink Brigade of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to rush to areas that might be damaged by the storm. Army engineers, with their heavy equipment, will roll out and join the ‘bayanis’ of Bayani Fernando in their mercy caravan.

7. We dropped by Villamor Air Base (VAB) and inspected the aircraft and the airmen on standby. We designated VAB as operations center, a springboard for help.

8. With or without the typhoon, but the latter would make it urgent, the distribution of power subsidies will commence in areas the typhoon will hit, in a manner that will not overburden government officials attending to relief work.

The United States is the Philippines' strongest friend and ally. Filipinos love America, its people and culture. We may be separated by an ocean, but we are bound by a shared history and common values of economic prosperity and a strong democracy. The relations between the US and the Philippines are stable, strong and mature.

Our friendship goes well beyond simple diplomatic relations between nations. Over four (4) million American citizens are of Filipino heritage. Over 250,000 Americans live and work in the Philippines. We are more than allies -- we are family.

During our West Coast visit, we will meet with our Fil-Am and OFW community to discuss their needs and concerns. Not a day goes by that our administration is not fighting for the interests of our OFWs somewhere in the world.

In Washington, we will be meeting with President Bush and members of his administration as well as political leaders of both parties in the US Congress. We share many issues that are of global concern, beginning with the price of food and fuel and food security. As such, discussions will focus on food security, defense cooperation, environmental protection and economic assistance.

On food security, the agreement between our two governments will lay the groundwork for securing the following:

a) hastening phyto-sanitary protocols that will open the way for fresh banana and mango exports from the Philippines to the US starting with an initial shipment of $5 million, then $15 million, and growing in the years to come;

b) biotechnology cooperation especially in the development of disease- tolerant rice seeds varieties through a $1.5 million grant;

c) accelerated dairy development program which plans to infuse 10,000 dairy animals in the next five years worth $25 million;

d) increased rice supply purchase agreements through the Public Law 480 of at least $20 million and General Services Manager 102 Program of at least $70 million;

e) a proposed surplus equipment program of $50 million, extension service capacity building program of $25 million, and accelerated livestock genetic resource improvement program of $25 million.

OPS U.S. Visit 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C.– June 23 – (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here shortly before midnight Sunday (Washington time) on the second leg of her ten-day working visit to the United States.

The President planed in by special flight from Fresno, California and was welcomed at the Dulles National Airport by officials and staff of the Philippine embassy in Washington led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa.

Immediately upon arrival at the Willard Hotel, the President convened a meeting of members of the Cabinet accompanying her in her US trip to assess the progress of the relief and rescue operations in the wake of the devastation wrought by “Typhoon” Frank in several provinces in the Philippines.

Of special concern to the President, Philippine officials said, is the fate of the passengers still trapped inside the hold of the MV Princess of Stars ferry, which sank off Sibuyan Island at the height of the typhoon Saturday.

The President begins this morning (Monday, Washington time) her first round of meetings in the US capital when she confers with Deputy State Secretary John Negroponte at the Willard Hotel’s presidential receiving room.

Philippine officials were mum on the agenda of the meeting between the President and the No. 2 US state department official, but the discussions were expected to cover a wide range of issues on US-Philippine bilateral relations.

Negroponte -- who served as US ambassador to the Philippines in 1983-89 -- coordinates and supervises US government activities overseas, represents the state department’s position before Congress, and manages key foreign policy issues on behalf of the secretary of state.

Also today, the President will meet with officials of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to firm up the Philippines’ bid for MCC Compact status which would pave the way for increased US funding assistance for the country’s anti-poverty programs.

The MCC is a US government corporation created by President Bush at the turn of the millennium to “regard the countries that govern well” by way of US assistance for anti-poverty and sustainable development programs.

The Philippines has already received $9.4 million in assistance from the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program (MCATP) for its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program; $3.1 million for the Run After The Smugglers (RATS) program; and $1.4 million for the Revenue Protection Service (RIPS) program.

The MCATP also funded Philippine government programs designed to reduce corruption by strengthening the capability of the Office of the Ombudsman to prosecute corrupt officials.

MCATP funded a two-year, $6.5 million program to train Ombudsman employees, establish an information management system, and enhance the agency’s investigative and surveillance capabilities.

OPS U.S. Visit 2008

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presided this morning over a joint Cabinet and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) meeting via remote video conference in order to be briefed on the status of search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts being conducted to help victims and repair infrastructure destroyed by typhoon "Frank" that battered the Visayas and Luzon regions over the last two days.

The President, who is on a 10-day working visit to the United States of America, "video-conferenced" with Cabinet and NDCC officials during her meeting with the Filipino community in Fresno, California.

First to give an update on typhoon Frank's eventual exit from the Philippine Area of Responsibility was Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. who reported to the President that there would be a "general improvement of weather conditions especially in the Visayas and Mindanao" by today (Tuesday, June 24) when Frank crosses over to the South China Sea.

Next was NDCC chairman M/Gen. Glenn Rabonza who told the President that SAR (search and rescue) operations were still being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the vicinity where Sulpicio Lines' M/V Princess of the Stars capsized off the waters of Sibuyan Island.

Rabonza added that SAR operations were also being conducted in the province of Iloilo, one of the hardest hit provinces by typhoon "Frank," leaving it submerged in chest-deep flood waters.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza told the President that operations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) that were hampered due to the Metro-wide blackout would be fully operational by today.

He added that "all airports and flights would be restored today" while telecommunication facilities that were affected by Frank’s strong winds and rain are being worked on expeditiously.

Mendoza told the President that he had ordered the MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) to ground all vessels of Sulpicio Lines and to check on the sea worthiness of all Sulpicio ships following the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars yesterday (Monday, June 23). He added that he will be meeting with the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) to investigate the incident where at least 700 persons are still missing as of Sunday night.

He pointed out that aside from this, the BMI will review the guidelines issued by PCG last June 2007, "especially on the saving of vessels."

The PCG, represented by Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, assured the President that all was being done to "really scout the area for survivors."

Tamayo said a total of five vessels composed of three Coast Guard ships and two tug boats were scouring the waters off Sibuyan Island in the province of Romblon for any possible survivors of the capsized M/V Princess of the Stars.

He reported to the President that 28 survivors have already been rescued, to which the President exclaimed, "Oh praise God!"

A representative of Sulpicio Lines, Edgardo Co, who was also present during the meeting, told the President that the company would shoulder all expenses of the victims of the sunken ship and their families.

Last to give an update was Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez who gave the President a general view on the situation of victims from the province of Iloilo.

Gonzalez, a former congressman of Iloilo, told the President that the situation in the province was still "critical." He, however, assured that "thousands of people in evacuation centers" have been dwindling in number because of the number of evacuees already occupying known evacuation centers.

"We lack evacuation centers actually because our schools were also flooded," Gonzalez said.

He added that the affected local governments of Iloilo province talked to the owners of several malls in the city to allow the evacuees to temporarily occupy their top floors. Churches were also used as evacuation centers.

Before adjourning, the President issued several directives that she wants members of Congress, her Cabinet and the NDCC to carry out immediately in connection with the destruction wrought by typhoon "Frank."

First, to prevent unscrupulous traders from jacking up prices of basic goods, particularly rice, during calamities, President Arroyo said she would ask members of the House of Representatives to file a bill making rice hoarding and profiteering fall under the crime of economic sabotage.

If enacted, the punishment for rice hoarding and profiteering could be upgraded to life imprisonment.

Second, the President said she would ask members of Congress to file a bill where the declaration of a State of Calamity will include "imposing a maximum price of rice."

Third, the President assured the victims and families of typhoon "Frank," especially those of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars, that the government will provide aid in addition to the aid that will be extended by the owners of Sulpicio Lines.

Fourth, the President will assign an NDCC official to oversee and ensure that Sulpicio Lines makes good its commitment to extend any and all aid to the victims of their ship's sinking.

Fifth, for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to open disaster relief accounts, websites and text numbers in their various consul offices in the Middle East, Europe, America and Asia so that Filipinos in these countries who may wish to help the victims of typhoon "Frank" in any way will have a venue where to give their donations.

Sixth, for the National Computer Center (NCC) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to ensure that the NDCC's website remains operational despite the high volume of internet traffic accessing the site.

"Because yesterday, we were not able to get in touch with NDCC. Even now, we are in Malacañang, we are still not able to get through," the President said.

"So these are the things I'd like our NDCC members to do now," she added.

According to the national weather bureau, as of 2:00 a.m. today, "Frank" was located by radar, satellite and surface data to be 200 kilometers west-northwest of Dagupan City (16.3°N 118.4°E), with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour, and gustiness of up to 150 kph. Typhoon Frank is forecast to move west-northwest at 17 kph towards the general direction of the South China Sea.

OPS U.S. Visit 2008

CITY OF FRESNO, California -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the Filipino community in the United States to extend assistance to the victims of typhoon Frank that hit the Philippines last Saturday.

The President sounded the call in her brief message during a program with some Filipino-Americans at the Fresno Convention Center here when she joined them in hearing Sunday mass.

''You have done so much without losing your bonds of affection for your motherland or your inherent pride in your Filipino heritage. Every year, Filipino-Americans extend all forms of assistance for your old schools, hometowns, provinces and local organizations,'' the President said.

''From medical and dental missions, to educational and internet support, to humanitarian and charitable causes, Filipino-Americans are ever ready to help the land of your forefathers,'' the President added.

She said that with the onslaught of typhoon Frank, the Filipinos back home are hoping that the Filipinos here will again extend their help to the less fortunate.

''To our Fil-Am brothers and sisters, for your generosity towards the less fortunate in the Philippines, and for your commitment to enhance development in our motherland, salamat!'' she said.

Some 600 Filipino-Americans witnessed the President’s conduct of a video conference with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) where President Arroyo showed that despite her being out of the Philippines to foster diplomatic relations with its most important ally, she remains focused and on top of the situation back home.

Any assistance to the typhoon victims could be coursed through the embassies and consulates as the President has given out instructions for them to open disaster-relief donation accounts.

In addition, the NDCC was directed to set up an accounts website and text number.

OPS U.S. Visit 2008

WASHINGTON D.C. — “US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kelley, who is in Washington DC, just informed me that a US Navy ship is now steaming towards the general area where the Sulpicio Lines vessel had capsized to assist in the search and rescue operations.

Coordination with the AFP is ongoing.

The US vessel is expected to be on site within the next 15 hours.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who just landed with her party in Washington DC, has been closely monitoring the developments.

After presiding over an early-dawn NDCC meeting via video-conference facilities from Fresno, California, she intends to call for another round of updating soon after she settles down here in the US capital.

OPS U.S. Visit 2008

CITY OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this morning issued seven directives after she convened the second National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) meeting in less than 24 hours.

''Let me give you a summary of what should be done -- should be followed as a result of that meeting,'' the President said during the program with some 600 Filipino-Americans from Fresno and the neighboring areas in Central Valley here.

The directives were: (1) Congress to certify a bill that would consider rice hoarding and profiteering as economic sabotage with disaster as aggravating circumstance; (2) state of calamity should include imposing maximum rice price and giving decent return for farmers/traders, plus wholesale of hoarded rice;

(3) announce government aid for ferry disaster victims or families; (4) pending review of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) protocols so that no vessel sails if it would pass possible typhoon path; (5) assign an NDCC official at Sulpicio Lines to get and release information on victims;

(6) embassies in the US, Europe and Middle East should open disaster relief donation accounts plus NDCC account website or text number; (7) National Telecommunications Co. (NTC) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) should help ensure NDCC site to be able to work amid high traffic.

The President was given an update on the consolidated damage wrought by typhoon Frank, as well as assistance, relief and rescue operations being implemented.

Although typhoon Frank would be totally out of the Philippines area of responsibility by Tuesday morning, according to PAGASA, NDCC Chair Gen. Glen Rabonza said consolidated damage report is yet to be completed. He stressed, however, that relief and rescue operations are on-going especially for the victims of the MV Princess that sank off Romblon at the height of typhoon Frank last Saturday.

The Board of Maritime Inquiry (BMI) will conduct a thorough probe on the MV Princess sinking and the reported 200,000 liters of oil in the sunken ship that may cause an oil spill.

In the meantime, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said all Sulpicio Lines vessels are grounded to check on their seaworthiness.

The President welcomed the news from the PCG that the sunken vessel was already located off Calunay, Quezon, and that 28 survivors were found.

''Praise God!'' the President said.

The President immediately left for Washington DC after she joined the Filipino community here in hearing Sunday mass.