The Philippine Online Chronicles

Assuming office on Thursday, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Officer-in-Charge Mujib Hataman immediately ordered the cancellation of all logging permits.

Zambotimes quoted Hataman saying, "This is my task, I have marching orders from the President and he provided me all the support.”

Hataman was appointed amid the suspension of ARMM elections which will now coincide with the 2013 national elections. Election Romulo Macalintal filed a petition before the Supreme Court

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III said illegal logging partly caused the flashflood in Iligan City which left hundreds dead and more missing.

He called for Mindanao officials to take action against illegal logging activities.

Reports say the flashfloods in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro were aggravated by hundreds of large logs swept away in the floods, injuring people and properties.

Presidential Adviser on Environment Neric Acosta said the greening of watershed sites, especially those in Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon, in Mindanao is a key solution to protect low-lying areas from landslides and flash floods, such as the ones caused by Tropical Storm Sendong.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, out of the 30 million hectares covered by the Philippines, 53 percent was forest land. However, recent satellite surveys show that present forest cover is now just 24.27 percent. The other 25 percent are now unproductive, open, denuded or degraded.

Mining has also been pointed out as another contributing factor to deforestation.

On Wednesday, authorities from Cagayan de Oro seized “hot logs” or logs that were illegally-cut. Two 40-foot container vans filled with mahogany logs were found at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan town.

Number of missing and dead rises

As of 10 a.m. today, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that casualties had risen to 1,080 while 1,079 remain missing.

The increase in missing persons was said to have been a result of improved coordination between officials and the victim’s families.

But NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos later ordered that the counting be temporarily stopped since some of those reported missing may already be among those found dead.

Ramos said the tally may be misleading, adding that they have instead indicated it as a “lost count.”

The agency had also tallied 1,979 people injured and 28,049 houses damaged.

People staying at evacuation centers have ballooned to 276,400. Damage to property has also breached the P1 billion mark.

Help from around the world

While government and the private sector hurry to extend help to the devastated areas, other countries have also pledged material support.

Malaysia, through Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman, gave a check worth P4.3 million.

“Natural calamities cannot be completely avoided but its impact can be reduced. This modest contribution will at the very least ease the burden of the affected government to rehabilitate and reconstruct the areas affected by the destructive floods,” Anifah said.

Meanwhile, the Germany Embassy will be sending P30 million worth of humanitarian emergency aid in the form of hygiene kits, mosquito nets and other vital goods.

The United States had also pledged $100,000 (roughly P4.36 million) for relief efforts.

Spain, through the Spanish Cooperation Agency for International Development will also give out P51 million for the victims.

But the biggest pledge is the United Nations’ (UN) call for a $28.6 million (more than P1 billion) donation from various international stakeholders.

UN said the fund will be used to “provide clean water for drinking and bathing, food, emergency shelter, and essential household items to 471,000 worst-affected people in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.”

“Shelter requirements for those whose houses have been destroyed or those who will be unable to return to their neighborhoods categorized as hazardous and high risk areas will likely feature in the revision. Livelihood support to help people rebuild their lives will also be key,” the group added.