MANILA - The Arroyo government plans to request the United Nations (UN) to increase its US$74-million flash appeal for the Philippines.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Glenn Rabonza said the flash appeal only covers the victims of tropical storm Ondoy, but not the victims of typhoon Pepeng that recently wrought havoc in Northern and Central Luzon.

Rabonza said Ondoy affected 4.4 million people, while 2.5 million have so far been hit by Pepeng.

The flash appeal has attracted some $14.2 million dollars in donations, or 19 percent of the amount requested. The UN also received a commitment of $19 million contribution outside the flash deal.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) representative who assessed how the government responded to the calamities observed the government’s “extensive search and rescue operations” and the “quick release of emergency relief supplies” in his two-day visit in the Philippines.

UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said he went around some flood-affected areas in Pasig City and spoke with President Arroyo and some Cabinet officials.

The localities in Mega Manila worst hit by Ondoy were Marikina City and Cainta, Rizal. Pepeng, meanwhile, killed more people and flooded more areas in three regions in the north--Cordillera, Ilocos, and Cagayan.

RP system better than Myanmar's

Comparing the Philippines with other typhoon-prone countries, Holmes said he was impressed with how the NDCC worked hand-in-hand with international groups to gather relief assistance for the typhoon victims.

He recalled the case of Myanmar when it was hit by typhoon Nargis in May 2008, killing more than 100,000 people. He said that Myanmar lacked an integrated disaster risk reduction plan, so it was caught by surprise by the typhoon.

Relief efforts from international agencies were also curtailed as Myanmar's military rulers refused to receive assistance from outside. 

Holmes also stressed that disaster response involves not only rescue and relief efforts after the disaster, but also having early warning devices, flood control management, and hazard mappings that would keep away houses from landslide or flood-prone areas.

“When disasters happen, the situation is always chaotic. And the risk reduction plan is not always perfect. After a disaster, it is important for the concerned agencies to sit down and go back on the areas of the risk reduction plan that need to be improved,” he said.

Holmes impressed

The UN earlier said that the country’s poor drainage system and garbage disposal problems aggravated flooding in Metro Manila.

Other observers have also scored the weather bureau's lack of modern equipment that could have predicted the volume of water that Ondoy would dump on Metro Manila and nearby towns last September 26.

Holmes also said he was “impressed” with how the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has been doing its work.

The commendation came amid moves in Congress to replace the NDCC with an agency that will have its own funding and personnel, unlike the current council which is dependent on the limited funds and workers of the defense department.

“Our cooperation has been exemplary so far, and we are determined to work together even more closely as the relief operations continue and early recovery operations start,” he added, referring to the UN’s partnership with the government in the relief operations.