You are on page 1of 11

C CO ON NS SO OL LIID DA AT TE ED DR RE EP PO OR RT T O ON NT TH HE EM ME ED DIIC CA AL LA AN ND DR RE EL LIIE EF FO OP PE ER RA AT TIIO ON NS S C CO ON ND DU UC CT TE ED DF FO OR RT TH HE ES SU UR RV VIIV VO OR RS S O AIIY YA AN N) ) OL LA AN ND DA A( (H HA PH HO OO ON NY YO OF FT TY YP

(13 November 23 December 2013)

Associated Marine Officers and Seamens Union of the Philippines AMOSUP - PTGWO - ITF

AMOSUP MEDICAL AND RELIEF OPERATIONS REPORT AMOSUP-PTGWO-ITF conducted relief operations and medical missions for Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors from 16 November through 23 December 2013. Five other ITF affiliates participated or coordinated with the union in the conduct of the sorties, as follows: AWU/PWUP, BKM-PNR, UTWO, JREU & JSU together with social partners, employers and ship owners. A total of 18 Local Government Units (LGUs) were visited, with approximately 250,000 residents or about 50,000 families, of which at least 1,000 were members families. The union coordinated with the Seamens Hospitals in Cebu and Iloilo to mobilize ground teams to reach areas accessible by land. The unions head office, on the other hand, mobilized its training ship to service other LGUs in the islands with a composite team from the said hospitals, the academy and the union office. The union received cash donations amounting to 6.9 million pesos and goods worth 1.50 million pesos from over 20 donor organizations and individuals. Such donations were well utilized for the operations conducted for the people of Coron in Palawan, Eastern Panay and Northern Cebu. The areas covered were in the direct path of the tropical storm and significantly suffered from its rage. The union also purchased 15 million pesos worth of relief goods, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and construction materials and implements. The goods distributed and consumed included food and hygiene packs, educational supplies, toys, medicine and vitamin packs, medical and surgical supplies, prescribed and dispensed medications and construction supplies and implements for the rebuilding process. The following report documents the highlights of the sorties in the different areas accessed by the teams mobilized for the relief operations and medical missions. Photographs have been included to show the touching on-site scenes encountered and the work done for the calamity survivors. At the end of the report, relevant facts and figures of operational details are also presented.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CENTRAL VISAYAS SORTIES Tacloban, Leyte (NSA) The training ship T/S Kapitan Felix Oca, was mobilized recently to deliver relief goods to the badly devastated areas in Tacloban, Leyte and Coron Island. Both areas were directly hit by Tropical Storm Yolanda (Haiyan), said to be one of the worlds strongest cyclones that developed. It sailed for Tacloban, Leyte on 13 November 2013 for its first sortie. The first trip of the training ship, an initiative of the Norwegian Shipowners Association and the Norwegian social partners through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, brought millions of pesos worth of donated relief goods to the people of the province of Leyte. Its payload included rice, assorted canned goods, bottled water, medical supplies, hygiene products, tents, used clothing and generator sets. NSA cadets from Cebu were on board the ship then. The Norwegians were among the first responders that provided relief assistance to the people of the province. Coron, Palawan & Tacloban, Leyte (NSA, AMOSUP) The second sortie left Manila on 20 November, jointly undertaken by the NSA and AMOSUP, sailed for Coron, Palawan and then after returning to Manila proceeded once more to Leyte on 24 November for its third sortie. Many civic-spirited individuals and social partners continued to donate a good amount of similar relief goods for this second trip of the training ship the outpouring of assistance and help from civil society was indeed overwhelming. T/S KFO was once again fully loaded with tons of donated relief goods for the needy population. The union also acquired medications from pharmaceutical suppliers and received donations from various groups for distribution to the said provinces all of which were turned over to the respective Local Government Units (LGUs) as well as to government agencies in-charge of relief operations. The recipient instrumentalities were previously contacted to coordinate the orderly unloading and distribution of relief goods. From the start, the ITF affiliate AWU/PWUP provided much needed stevedoring services to load the training ship with tons of relief goods. 2

Bantayan Island, Medellin & Daan Bantayan (AMOSUP Seamens Hospital Cebu) While the training ship was conducting its sorties to other Visayan provinces, the Seamens Hospital Cebu, in coordination with the union' organized teams to travel to Bantayan Island and Daan Bantayan in northern Cebu to carry out relief operations and medical missions during the period 16-17, 23-26 & 30 November. The identified areas are literally known as the territory or home ground of Cebuano seafarers. In fact, many AMOSUP union members and their families live there. The first team, of doctors, nurses and support personnel, traveled to Bantayan Island and visited the towns of Madridejos and Bantayan proper (3 hours by land plus 1.5 hours by ferry boat). The second team, which had the same composition and purpose, went to the towns of Medellin and Daan Bantayan proper (4 hours by land). Both teams conducted medical consultations and distributed relief goods which included: rice, canned goods, undergarments, tarpaulin for tenting, blankets, flashlights, candles & matches and mosquito repellants. Packs of medications containing analgesics, pain relievers, cough and cold preparation were also distributed to the families. More than one thousand families in the said towns benefited from this initiative of the hospital, which included families of both union members and non-members. The Cebu team also did the preparations for the planned sortie of the training ship. Conception, Sara, Balasan, San Rafael, Carles & Estancia Towns in Panay Island (AMOSUP Seamens Hospital Iloilo) The Iloilo initiative covered six towns in Panay Island which were also hit by the tropical storm. Relief operations were successively conducted in the identified areas from 17 through 23 November, distributing food items and used clothing. Separate medical missions were organized for Malagabang and Pan de Asucar Islands off the town of Concepcion. On 6 December, another medical team also proceeded to the village of Ancop in the town of Carles, the northernmost tip of eastern Panay Island. The Iloilo group purposely visited areas which have not been adequately serviced by other relief operations. On 23 December, a gift giving sortie was conducted for the children of Estancia. Over a thousand families were benefited by the Iloilo operations.
3

Bantayan Group of Islands Lipayran, Doong & Botiges (AMOSUP) In the early morning of 08 December 2013, T/S Kapitan Felix Oca sailed anew to new destinations in Central Philippines severely affected and directly hit by Tropical Storm Yolanda. This time the destination was northern Cebus Lipayran, Doong and Botiges Islands. This fourth sortie was led by the union president himself, Dr. Conrado F. Oca, in cooperation with other affiliates of the ITF and industry social partners. At 0630H on Monday, 09 December, the ship dropped anchor off the island of Doong, with the two other adjacent islands of Lipayran and Botiges clearly in sight. The tasks of unloading and distribution were extra challenging as the relief goods included heavy construction materials and implements to be used by recipients to rebuild their badly damaged dwelling places. Unloading the heavy cargo was difficult also due to absence of suitable barges that would ferry the heavier materials ashore. The cargo that needed to be unloaded included 12,000 galvanized iron sheets, 900 bags of cement, hundreds of boxes of roof sealants, roof nails and construction tool sets. And it was the first time that all unloading had to be done while at anchorage and without the benefit of port facilities. But the systematic and continuous unloading of the cargo achieved the objective. These islands of northern Cebu were among the hardest hit areas by the typhoon. Houses for instance of some one thousand families in Doong alone were either flattened or damaged by the storms over 300 kph winds and gusts. Majority of the residents depend on fishing and seaweed farming as their main sources of livelihood.

And it was their fishing boats which provided the means to transport the construction materials from ship to shore some of which were big enough to bear the weight of sheets of galvanized iron and sacks of cement. Some fisher folks were also unlucky to have lost or damaged their fishing boats to the tropical storms rage. T/S KFOs lifeboats provided the logistics back-up to transport the relief goods and ferry the medical personnel and support staff from the ship to the islands while MAAP cadets mainly served as the backbone on-board from re-packing to unloading and delivery of the ships valuable payload.

Aside from the heavy cargo, relief goods packs for sustenance and hygiene were also transported to the islands via the ships life boats and several hired pump boats. Medical and pharmaceutical supplies also had to be transported to the islands from the training ship for the simultaneous medical missions and relief operations organized by the ground team of Seamens Hospital Cebu. While the training ship was endlessly unloading its payload, the medical mission teams were already dispatched to the islands. Four medical teams went to Lipayran Island while five teams serviced Doong Island, where Botiges Island residents were accommodated by a dedicated team.
5

The ground team organized for the purpose did an excellent job of coordinating with local leaders and the relief operation recipients, the islands residents and union members; implementing an orderly queuing system for the effective conduct of the simultaneous island medical missions; distributing of food and hygiene relief goods; and dispensing prescribed medications to patients. The sortie benefited over two thousand families from the said islands and was one of the first to deliver much needed materials for reconstruction. The complex task of preparing for separate medical missions in the islands was also organized by the ground team. Thousands of local residents, children and adults, queued up during the medical missions. To ensure that all are given proper and adequate medical attention, several medical teams performed the tasks of patient consultation and the issuance of prescriptions. 12 doctors and 14 nurses left the confines of their clinical duties at Seamens Hospital Manila to render free medical work. The Seamens Hospital Cebu complemented the team with five more doctors, ten nurses and back-up personnel, who joined the ship when it reached the waters of Cebu. The medical state of patients varied ranging from minor respiratory infections and anemia to hypertension and diabetes. Others only queued up to ask for multi-vitamins, analgesics and antibiotics. Minor surgical procedures were likewise performed for some patients when the condition warranted.
6

But the medical mission teams were so well organized, prepared and equipped. The doctors were very efficient, and the medications adequate, properly dispensed and matched most of the needs of indigent patients. Extra medications not dispensed were left with the local municipality and health officials. To ensure the orderly distribution of food and hygiene relief goods, separate areas were designated for the purpose. All entitled recipients were pre-registered and issued colorcoded stubs. This system was devised by the ground team to avoid unintended release of goods. Toys and school supplies were also distributed to the children of the islands.

Aside from the president, some union officials and the medical and paramedical teams that sailed with the ship, 46 cadets from MAAP spent actual training on board as part of the contingent. A number of volunteers from ITF affiliates, namely, the Japan Railways East Union (JREU), Bukluran at Kawani ng Manggagawa ng Philippine National Railways (BKM-PNR) and the United Transport Workers Organization (UTWO) also joined the sortie. The volunteers from the different unions also assisted the cadets in the repacking tasks while on board the ship. At each days end, the contingent had good meals and social time together with enough rest periods, knowing that relief operations in other parts of northern Cebu will continue the day after. The next target relief areas: Daan Bantayan and Malapascua Island. 7

Talisay, Daan Bantayan & Malapascua Island (AMOSUP) On Tuesday, 10 December, T/S KFO ship sailed further north and before noon, it dropped anchor across Chocolate Island off the coast of the northern tip of mainland Cebu. Word apparently spread around fast to the islanders that the training ship was on a mercy mission. As soon as it dropped anchor, hundreds of fishing boats from the mainland approached the ships starboard side to try and ask for relief goods. The ships Captain who stood by the accommodation ladder could not control the swelling number but managed to direct them to queue up in an orderly manner, avoiding the growing mayhem. Separate teams were again dispatched to conduct medical missions and relief goods distribution in Malapascua Island and the coastal fishing village of Talisay in Daan Bantayan. As in previous missions, thousands of local residents came for the medical consultations and received relief packs prepared by the ground team. Children from the remote fishing village were especially happy and delighted for the school supplies, books and backpacks they received from the team. In Daan Bantayan, at least one thousand families benefited from the mission. In Malapascua Island, about two hundred families were serviced. The unions leadership also informed the local school authorities of Talisay village that their school will be adopted by AMOSUP. To the extent possible, the union will lend support and fund repairs of the damaged school buildings. 8

Throughout the training ships journey to Cebu and during the conduct of relief operations, the weather completely cooperated. Hours before the ship prepared to sail back to Manila, the skies opened up and reflected the calm blue waters. Perhaps it was heavens reward or sign to everyone for a job well done! The union expresses its deepest gratitude to all individuals and organizations who contributed and donated to the relief missions, most especially the foreign social partners, the employers and ship owners, and affiliates who voluntarily and unselfishly shared their resources to benefit thousands our disadvantaged countrymen affected by the calamity.

A glimmer of hope now shines in the faces of thousands of people reached.

The nation and its people will never forget such spontaneous acts of generosity and outpouring of assistance to our needy countrymen. The sincere concern shown them are very reassuring and speaks well of the convictions and principles our industry social partners stand for. In an ideal world, those who have more give to those who have less so that everyone may have enough.
JRVL

AMOSUP RELIEF OPERATIONS AND MEDICAL MISSIONS


(T/S KFO, Seamens Hospitals Cebu & Iloilo, MAAP, Affiliates and Social Partners)

FACTS AND FIGURES GENERAL INFORMATION Period Covered Affiliates Involved Local Government Units (LGUs) Visited Population of LGUs DONORS & DONATIONS Donor Organizations

: : : : :

16 November - 23 December 6 (AWU/PWUP, BKM-PNR, JSU, JREU, UTWO, AMOSUP) 18 (Coron, Palawan, Eastern Panay & Northern Cebu) ~250,000 or ~50,000 Families 21 (NORDEN, PAROLA, AIER, POMI, SMOU, SOS,
AWU/PWUP, JSU, ALPHA, BARKO, TRUE NORTH, MAINE MARINE, MMS, MAAP, YAM, PRI, PTC/AP, AUDIOPHILE, CSM-DC, PAO, FAME)

Other Donors Donations Received (Cash) Donations Received (Goods) GOODS DISTRIBUTED & CONSUMED Food Relief Packs Hygiene Relief Packs Educational Supplies Packs Medicine & Vitamin Packs Construction Materials

: : : : : : : :

2 (Individuals) 6.87 Million Pesos 1.50 Million Pesos 5,000 Bags 1,000 Bags 2,000 Bags 2,000 Bags 12,000 G.I. Sheets 900 Cement Bags 800 Packs of Roof Sealants 100 Sets of Construction Tools 200 Kilograms of Roof Nails 5.5 Million Pesos .2 Million Pesos 1.0 Million Pesos 2.5 Million Pesos 6.7 Million Pesos 5.9 Million Pesos 12 50 17 24 10 2 35

Prescribed Medications Medical & Surgical Supplies Medications Turned-over GOODS PURCHASED Relief Goods (Food & other items) Pharmaceutical & Medical Supplies Construction Materials PERSONNEL COMPLEMENT Union Officials MAAP Cadets & Personnel Doctors Nurses Paramedical Support Personnel Security Personnel Ships Crew

: : : : : : : : : : : : :

10

You might also like