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Pope visit not linked to transfer of Yolanda survivors–archdiocese
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By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
HE Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, on Saturday denied that the visit of Pope Francis has something to do with the planned transfer of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) survivors’ bunkhouses along the road that the pope is expected to take during his visit next year. Some 250 Yolanda-affected fami lies w i l l be relocated in November in case their permanent houses were not finished as scheduled. However, Archbishop John Du of Pa lo said the Yolanda survivors,who have been staying in bunkhouses since their homes were destroyed by the typhoon in November 2013, should be moved to permanent houses and not to another bunkhouse settlement.
Du reiterated that the purpose of the papal visit to the country is to be with the poor, saying it is “not fair” to think that the transfer is due to the papal visit. Fr. Rex Ramirez, vicar general of the archdiocese, verified that the local government of Palo intends to transfer Yolanda survivors from the government center compound in Candahug, where they currently stay, to the
300 permanent houses being built for them. “I had a meeting with Palo local government officials, and they informed me that the deadline for the relocation of Yolanda survivors is in November,” Ramirez said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas. Earlier the Yolanda survivors claimed that Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla plans to transfer them from Barangay Candahug to bunkhouses in Barangay Tacuranga, or in permanent relocation sites, which are still under construction, in line with the preparations of the local government for the pope’s visit. Although some of them are already in permanent position, they added that they will be moved to another bunkhouse settlement 5 kilometers from the town center, which, they said, would greatly affect their livelihood and their children’s education. Recently, Palo homeowners said they also face displacement because of the papal visit as the Department of Public Works and Highways has started demolishing houses and other structures along the highway leading to the seat of the archdiocese to make way for a
road-widening project. Likewise, the People’s Surge has appealed to Church leaders to stand up for Yolanda-affected families living in Baras, Palo, following the alleged campaign being planned by local government officials in a bid to rid the town of “eyesores” ahead of—ironically— the visit of Pope Francis, who will be there precisely because of the typhoon survivors. Among the structures in danger of being torn down are the Almadro family ancestral home, built in 1924, and the Palo public library, which is in a 200-yearold house that is one of the oldest “ bahay na bato” in the town that the National Historical Commission has acknowledged as an “Important Cultural Property.” However,Yolanda sur v ivors said that, on September 15, Petilla told them around 80 householdbeneficiaries of houses to be built by the Tzu Chi Foundation would move into their new homes, while the rest would be transferred to another bunkhouse settlement in Barangay Tacuranga by November. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Unocha) is optimistic of attaining “zero
tent” before the first anniversary of Yolanda. Local governments and nongovernmental organizations work hand-in-hand to move the families to the transitional shelters in barangays Tagpuro and New Kawayan. Unocha Deputy Head Martin Andrew said there will be zero tents in the village since they had identified solutions for it. “In San Jose village, nearly 200 families will be given cash grants to build their own house outside the 40-meter no-dwelling zone, and others will be moved to temporary shelters,” Andrew said. Barangay San Jose, a peninsula, is one of the hardest-hit areas in the city. Families in the village had a horrible experience with the wrath of Yolanda last year. “Tents are good to live in for three to six months, but should not last for a year because of its vulnerability. That’s the reason we want to transfer them to transitional shelters as soon as possible,” Andrew said. At the same time, Andrew said recovery in the city is fast because of the resilience of Filipinos, who are used to deal with great disasters. With PNA
Filipinos will never forget Jewish help to typhoon victims–Cuisia
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HE Philippines will never forget the kind gesture of the Jewish community for the helping hand it extended to the Filipino people in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) last year, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said. “The Filipino people will always remember that, during their time of need, the Jewish people came to their succor the same way we did when we opened our door to them to save them from Nazi persecution more than seven decades ago,” Cuisia said in his remarks during the recent special screening of the documentary Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust at the Philippine Embassy in Washington. In his remarks, Cuisia extended his gratitude to leaders of the Jewish community for immediately rushing to the assistance of the Philippines after Yolanda struck the Visayas last year, killing more than 6,000 people and displacing millions. Cuisia cited the important role of the Joint Jewish Distribution Committee (JDC), the Israeli Defense Forces and other humanitarian organizations that provided food, shelter, clean water and sanitation to typhoon victims. In addition to raising more than $1.3 million, Cuisia said the JDC also assisted in search and rescue efforts and helped in the reconstruction of damaged buildings and in the restoration of water supply in affected areas. It also provided medical care to more than 2,800 typhoon victims, including 900 children. “Rescue was being screened at the United Nations on the night Typhoon Haiyan hit the Central Visayas and its producers immediately set up a relief fund that raised $130,000 in five days,” Cuisia added. “I believe this is the Jewish community’s way of reciprocating our gesture of taking in 1,305 Jewish refugees during the Holocaust and for being the only Asian member-state of the United
Monday, October 27, 2014 A9
Oxfam slated to distribute bigger boats in Leyte towns
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ACLOBAN CITY—An international organization will distribute three 60-footer boats to fishermen’s associations in Leyte for their long-term recovery. Entering the new phase last month, Oxfam’s assistance program targets associations in order to support the link between fishermen, not only individuals. “This time, more fishermen will be reached out to help them build back better and safer,” said Edizon Cahindo, Oxfam’s emergency and food security vulnerable livelihood assistant. Oxfam’s objective in providing bigger boats is for the fishermen to reach deeper ocean to catch more fish and increase their income. “We are worried because the fishermen might have caught few fishes since they’re just on the shallow part of the sea, and, worse, small fishes are being caught that leads to reduction in fish species,” Cahindo said. “Small boats were given last time and now it’s time to procure them [fishermen] the bigger boats,” he added. The boats will be distributed to fishermen’s associations in the severely affected localities by Supertyphoon Yolanda, such as the towns of Palo and Tanauan and Tacloban City. “Oxfam aims to alleviate poverty. Its mission is to provide equality among men all over the world,” the official said. Fishing boats will be officially owned by the associations and will be used by their members. Oxfam will also provide fishing materials and support the seaweed production in the northern villages of this city. Oxfam, in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has distributed small boats, fishing gear and fish nets during its early recovery phase. PNA
Senate set to approve new fisheries code
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Cagayan de Oro landmark
Executives and officers of Eternal Gardens, together with special guests, pose with Greenhills Park’s sales managers and agents in front of the newly unveiled statue of the Transfiguration of Jesus that is bound to be a landmark in Cagayan de Oro (CdO) City. Inset shows Sean Moreno (center), son of CdO City Mayor Oscar Moreno, receive a glass-encased replica of the Transfiguration statue as a token of gratitude from Eternal Gardens Chairman and CEO D. Edgard A. Cabangon (left) and President Benjamin V. Ramos.
Nations that voted in favor of the creation of the State of Israel in 1947,” Cuisia said. “I am glad we were able to screen this film about a littleknown story of the collaboration of Filipinos and Americans to offer Jews escaping the Nazi pogrom in Europe a safe haven when many other countries were turning them away,” Cuisia said. Rescue tells the story of how President Manuel Luis Quezon
and five Jewish-American businessmen—brothers, the Frieders of Cincinnati, along with US High Commissioner Paul McNutt, Col. Dwight David Eisenhower and the Joint JDC worked together to save a total of 1,305 Jewish refugees. The film has been screened at the US Capitol, the United Nations, the Library of Congress, the Philadelphia Museum of American Jewish
History, the American Jewish Archives and other venues in New York, California, Ohio, Montana, Texas, Maryland and Florida. On August 7 Rescue had its Manila premiere with no less than President Aquino hosting the event at Malacañang. Rescue has also received positive reviews from the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Village Voice. Present during the embassy
screening were director Cynthia Scott; executive director Russ Hodge; Producers Peggy Ellis and Barbara Sasser; surviving Jewish refugees, including Ralph Preiss, and direct descendants of other refugees, who fled to the Philippines. Also present was Ruth Ephraim, widow of Frank Ephraim, author of Escape to Manila, which served as the basis for the documentary. Recto Mercene
By Recto Mercene
HE Senate is scheduled to approve on third reading tomorrow, Monday, a bill that will give more teeth to the country’s marine and fisheries laws in order to avert a possible ban by the European Union on Philippine marine and fisheries products. Senate President Franklin Drilon said Senate Bill 2414, which amends the Fisheries Code, must be enacted into law by year-end in order to help advance the country’s fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. “Once the bill becomes law, it will ensure the country’s compliance with international conventions and standards,” Drilon said. He said the present laws and rules “lack sufficient disincentives and sanctions against IUU fishing” and that is among the major issues raised by the EU through its Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in its 2012 audit report on the Philippines. Drilon added that, “We only have until the end of the year to address the ‘yellow tag’ warning issued by the EU.” “Failure to act on the yellow tag and the observations made by the EU in its 2012 audit report on the Philippines may result in the blacklisting of all Philippine marine and fisheries products in Europe,” he added. “We must pass the amendments to the Fisheries Code before the EU puts us under [the] ‘red flag,’ which would categorize us as a non-cooperating country by failing to discharge our commitment to eliminate IUU fishing,” Drilon explained. He said the ban will affect the fishing industry and the country’s economic growth.