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Philippines--US extends help to Fengshen victims (Update)

by jayr_patron | June 23, 2008 at 01:12 am | 292 views | 2 comments

Yesterday, a US Navy ship has set off for the Central Visayas region to assist in the rescue and recovery operations, said Press Secretary Jesus Dureza who is in the United States with the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other officials.

The ship should be in the area before noon (+8 GMT).

"A US navy ship s now steaming towards the general area where the Sulpicio Lines capsized to assist in the search and rescue operations," Dureza said in a text message.

The navy ship is expected to arrive in the country in 15 hours, he added. He said coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines was ongoing.

The ship will come from the US military base in Okinawa, Japan, said National Disaster Coordinating Council Executive Director Anthony Golez in a separate interview.

Aside from a Navy ship, the United States has also sent a maritime surveillance aircraft to help in the search and recovery operations for passengers of the sunken M/V Princess of the Stars.

A US Navy P-3, a four-engine turbo maritime surveillance aircraft, will arrive anytime in the Philippines, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza told reporters here Monday morning (Monday night in Manila).

Meanwhile, a US official has announced that the US embassy in the Philippines is donating $100,000 to the Philippine National Red Cross in aid of the families of the MV Princess of the Stars victims.

The US government on Monday sent $100,000 in emergency aid for families of the victims of a Philippine ferry tragedy, a top official said.

The donation, the maximum amount that can be sent to the US Embassy in Manila without prior authorization from Congress, was forwarded to the Philippine National Red Cross, said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.