Marine reservist put up 'ShelterBox' relief camps in CDO, Iligan
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, January 16 (PIA) --- The Marine Reservists from Cebu under the Naval Reserve Center Eastern Visayas (NRCEV) assisted ShelterBox to set up relief camps in areas badly damaged by Sendong in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity organization that provides emergency shelter to people affected by disasters worldwide. It is assisted by its ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) to help set up relief camps.
In a press release from NRCEV it said that Shelter Box donated over 400 boxes that contained a family tent and cooking utensils, weighing 54 kilograms each.
These were transported via the Philippine Navy vessel, Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Bacolod City, LC 550 to Cagayan de Oro and that was unloaded there on December 29, 2011.
A temporary community or what they call as ‘tent city’ was set up in a Calaanan Relocation site, Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, this was learned.
The Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) based in Barangay Looc, Lapulapu City on the other hand was the first Philippine Navy unit that sent immediate assistance to the flood-struck cities.
After the typhoon hit on the dawn of December 18, a team of Navy Seals from the Naval Special Operations Unit 5 (NAVSOU-5) was deployed to Iligan City for search and retrieval operations on board one of Philippine Navy Islander (PNI) aircraft bringing with them a rubber boat.
According to Navforcen it also sent BRP Abraham Campo, PG 396 to be deployed in Cagayan de Oro for three (3) days to aid in the search and retrieval operations there.
After being relieved by another PN vessel, PG 396 returned to Amlan, Negros Occidental to provide seaborne security during the visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Navforcen also reported that it had also rescued M/V Santander Express 2 with 27 adults, five children, and five crew members when the boat experienced steering casualty on its way to Amlan, Negros Oriental.
Thirty (35) Sailors and Marines of Navforcen and Naval Reservists assisted the ABS-CBN's Regional Broadcasting Complex in Mandaue City to help and assist in the repacking of the relief goods for the typhoon victims.
The vessel BRP Bacolod City, LC 550 also transported the 400 tons of relief goods from ABS-CBN to the affected areas in Dumaguete City. (PIA-7/hfg & NAVFORCEN)
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Cebu’s Sinulog draws 3.8-4M people, biggest turnout in 32 years
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, January 16 (PIA) – An estimated 3.8 to 4 million people flocked to the streets in Cebu City yesterday at the height of the Sinulog Mardi Gras, which police said was the biggest turnout of the annual event in 32 years.
Cebu City Police Director Ramon Melvin Buenafe said the conduct of the Sinulog 2012 was generally successful with no major untoward incidents reported.
Because of the huge crowd along the carousel route especially in identified chokepoint areas such as Fuente Osmeña, crowd control was the common problem as revelers tried to push cordons to be able to watch the performances of the contingents, Buenafe said.
Last year, crowd was reported to be over 2 million.
This year, there were also more contingents that joined the grand parade at 135 while the program at the Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC) ended close to 9:00 p.m. that was capped with a spectacular fireworks display.
Vice President Jejomar Binay briefly greeted the crowd at the CCSC “Pit Senyor” before leaving to walk and mingle with the people outside along the carousel route.
Politicians also seen during the event were Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., Sen. Teddy Casiño, and former senators Francisco Tatad and Miguel Zubiri.
Yesterday’s grand parade drew appreciation from first-time tourists who watched the event. One was Kristin Kidd, a Canadian actress who said that the Cebu’s festival was more fun compared with other festivals in other countries. It was also very unique and very cultural, she added.
Kidd dressed in comical costume said they were shooting a film to be posted in the internet channel ‘Channelfix’ which was part of a reality gag show, this is said.
Another was 911 hero Rebecca Canalija, a Cebuana nurse in her 50s now based in New York but came here to watch the Sinulog for the first time.
According to Canalija, she has heard good things about the event from her friends in the US who have experienced the Sinulog in previous years.
Canalija was given recognition for her help in tending to the needs of the wounded and the dying at the hospital during the 911 tragedy. Her services extended until the rescue operations were completed which earned her a recognition as one of the 9/11 heroes in a book about them, this is reported.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) meanwhile, just last week launched the homecoming “hospitality’ counter for balikbayans at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
The counter will address the travel needs of the balikbayans and other tourists providing them a list of guided tours with special discount rates.
It was the sixth counter established by the DOT nationwide. The other tourist counters were installed at the NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3, Davao City International Airport and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. (PIA-Cebu)