World Bank, businessmen express concern for typhoon victims

CEBU, Philippines - The World Bank Group and the local business community expressed their sympathies and concern to the Philippines which is currently suffering from the massive destruction caused by Typhoon Yolanda that hit the country last Friday.

In a report from the Philippine Star, the typhoon barreled through six central Philippine islands on Friday, wiping away buildings and leveling seaside homes with ferocious winds of 235 kilometers per hour and gusts of 275 kph.

The category-5 super typhoon Yolanda, with international name Haiyan which is a Chinese term for a type of sea bird named petrel, weakened to 163 kph with stronger gusts yesterday as it approached the central and northern Vietnam wherein it was forecasted to make landfall Monday morning.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Yolanda made landfall over Daanbantayan and Bantayan Island in Cebu, Guiuan, Eastern Samar Dulag Tolosa in Leyte, Concepcion, Iloilo, and Cuartero, Capiz last Friday.

The World Bank Group expressed its utmost concern on the well-being and livelihoods of millions of people affected by the typhoon.

“We offer our sincere condolences and sympathies to the people of the Philippines for the tragic loss of lives and the destruction as a result of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). We are following the situation very closely, not only in the Philippines, but also in Vietnam. We stand ready to help in any way we can,” it said in a statement.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Philip Tan, on the other hand, urged the public to rather be thankful and be more concerned in extending assistance in other areas such as the northern part of  Cebu that are in immediate need of  help.

He added that the assistance from concerned citizens would now be divided to help the typhoon victims in the Visayas region and those families in Bohol who have been affected by the recent earthquake that hit the country last month.

Cebu Chamber of  Commerce and Industry (CCCI) disaster coordinating committee head Regan Rex King said that the chamber has received reports from residents in the northern part of the province asking for assistance on the supply of food, water, blankets, and tents.

While they are currently collecting and repacking relief goods among members to be distributed to the typhoon victims as soon as possible, CCCI shall also eventually provide the affected families with ropes and construction materials for the rehabilitation of their houses.

King said that they will simultaneously conduct the relief operations kicking off in the northern Cebu provinces before proceeding to neighboring islands such as Leyte, Ormoc and Tacloban.

Initially, CCCI already sent 500 ready-to-eat food packs to Bantayan Island through the Cebu Provincial Government last Saturday and another 150 food packs to Bogo City through CCCI former board of trustee Francis Dy.

CCCI encouraged the public to donate food, water and cash for the typhoon victims wherein they could deliver to CCCI Center, Commerce and Industry Streets, North Reclamation Area in Cebu City. —/JOB (FREEMAN)