Google to buy satellite company Skybox Imaging for $500 million

SAN FRANCISCO — Google Inc said on Tuesday it is acquiring satellite company Skybox Imaging for $500 million in cash, the Internet company’s second high-profile acquisition of an aerospace company this year.

Google said that Skybox’s satellites will provide images for Google’s online mapping service. Google, the world’s No.1 Internet search engine, said that Skybox’s technology could also eventually be used to provide Internet access and help with disaster relief.

The acquisition of the five-year old company comes as Google and rival Facebook Inc are racing to snap up satellite and drone companies in an expensive effort to expand the reach of their businesses.

In April Google acquired Titan Aerospace, a New Mexico-based maker of solar-powered drones, for an undisclosed sum. Google has also launched a small network of balloons designed to deliver Internet access over the Southern Hemisphere.

Facebook, the world’s No.1 Internet social network, announced in March that it had created a special “Connectivity lab” project tasked with developing satellites, drones and other technology that could be used to beam Internet connectivity to people in underdeveloped parts of the world.

Skybox has built satellites packed with sensors and camera electronics that take high-resolution images and video of the earth but which it says are smaller and lighter than traditional satellites. The company, which like Google is based in Mountain View, Calif, has launched one satellite and had planned to launch a constellation of 24 satellites, according to the company’s website.

“The time is right to join a company who can challenge us to think even bigger and bolder, and who can support us in accelerating our ambitious vision,” Skybox said on in its Website on Tuesday in a message announcing the deal with Google.

Google said the deal’s closing is subject to regulatory approvals in the United States.

Shares of Google were down less than 0.5 percent at $568.07 in midday trading on Tuesday.

source: interaksyon.com

No outside help has come to Samar - PDRRMC

MANILA - "Wala pa kaming outside aid na natatanggap."

That was the worried statement given by Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) information officer Christine Caidic to InterAksyon.com.

So far, she said, only the provincial government of Samar has come to help the devastated towns of Basey and Marabut, which were also leveled by Super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), suffering the same house-high waves that hit Tacloban City in Leyte.

"Depleted na rin po ang aming resources," Caidic said.

The two Samar towns are just across the narrow San Juanico Strait from Tacloban City. Next to Marabut is Eastern Samar. One has to pass through the towns of Balingaga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, and Salcedo before reaching Guiuan, where Yolanda made its first landfall on Friday.

The provincial government has been conducting clearing operations along the highways from its capital, Catbalogan, to Marabut and eventually to reach Guian.

No word yet has reached PDRRMC as to the actual number of casualties in Guiuan and nearby towns or to the progress the Department of Public Works and Highways have made in reaching the town, which is at the southern tip of the main Samar island.

No electricity, no banks

Caidic said the entire Region 8 still has no electricity and their province is already running low on fuel to be able to reach the devastated southern coastal towns.

She is also appealing for canned goods and other basic needs of survivors.

Other towns south of Catbalogan leading to Tacloban are not as heavily damaged but there are unconfirmed reports of deaths in the town of Sta. Rita, where the San Juanico Bridge starts.

"We have sent 10 teams to do needs assessment in other towns such as Pinabacdao, Yabong, and Paranas. But we will wait out this other typhoon [Zoraida] before we can send out teams in islands like Daram and Sumaraga, which are still unreachable until this time," Caidic said.

According to Louie Guillem of the Fire Volunteer Brigade of Catbalogan, residents of Sta. Rita, Villareal, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Paranas, and Motiong have been going to Catbalogan on foot since Monday to stock up on supplies since Tacloban trade has virtually shut down in the city.

"The problem is banks here are closed and people come here only to find out that they cannot withdraw money to buy basic necessities. Schools and offices are open here, why can't the banks open too?" he told InterAksyon.com.

Guillem's volunteer group was among those who went to Tacloban to give aid, especially water, but was later diverted to equally devastated towns of Basey and Marabut.

He said he was able to contact some friends in Ormoc, where mobile phone signal is spotty, and said Ormoc desperately needs help. Ormoc Villa Hotel is now serving as an evacuation center, where the owner is now staying.

"His mansion was also destroyed," Guillem said.

source: interaksyon.com

Philippines Inc mobilizes aid for 'Yolanda' victims

MANILA – As the devastation wrought by Typhoon 'Yolanda' comes to light, Philippines Inc. has set into motion its philanthropic arm, leveraging on its ability not only to provide immediate aid, but also to mobilize more support beyond the boardroom.

In separate statements, corporates such as SM, Citi, Jollibee, Del Monte Pacific and Harbor Star Shipping were among those that have launched relief efforts for the victims of the disaster that left an estimated 10,000 people dead.

The SM group is setting up a P100-million calamity fund for areas affected by the typhoon as well as the recent 7.2-magnitude earthquake, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, and Bicol.

The fund will focus on rebuilding homes, community centers, schools, and churches as well as providing immediate relief through food and supplies.

"SM Foundation is taking the lead in the relief effort with the nationwide reach of SM Cares of the mall group, SM Savemore, and BDO Foundation. Each group has a different expertise in the community support program, and will be working with community groups to expand the efforts and widen the reach of the relief operation," the group said.

“Operation Tulong Express” will be open for donations in SM malls, and an account in both BDO and China Bank will be open to accept cash donations.

Likewise, Citi Foundation has pledged a $250,000 disaster relief grant to the American Red Cross Pacific Typhoon Fund to support relief and recovery efforts in the communities affected by the typhoon.

Citi Philippines has established a special account to raise funds to go to the Philippine Red Cross, a member of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to support the relief efforts and long-term rebuilding of the communities.

Donations may be sent to the following account:

Account Name: TYPHOON HAIYAN RELIEF FUND, US Dollar Account No: 1600125377, Peso Account No: 1400172923, Swift Code:  CITIPHMX, Routing Number:  021-0000-89 (CITINY), Address: Citibank, N.A. 8741 Paseo De Roxas Ave. Makati City, Philippines
Jollibee Foods Corp, through Jollibee Group Foundation, is also accepting donations for the victims through coin banks found in over 2,000 stores across the group’s portfolio of brands that include Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and Burger King.

Jollibee is also accepting donations through these bank accounts:

PESO ACCOUNT: Metrobank – Cubao Araneta Branch, Account Name: Jollibee Group Foundation, Account Number: 473-7-47301401-3
DOLLAR ACCOUNT: BDO – Megamall Branch Account Name: Jollibee Foundation, Inc, Account Number: 100661267008, Swift Code: BNORPHMM
Tug boat operator Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc has also allowed the Philippine Coast Guard to use the company's 300-foot Barge Lynx in transporting relief goods and supplies as well as equipment to Tacloban and other affected areas for free.

Barge Lynx, one of the largest barges in the Philippines, can transport 8,000 metric tons of goods, or the equivalent weight of 150,000 sacks of rice.

Del Monte Pacific Co Ltd said it would reach out to the local government agencies in Leyte in "providing meaningful assistance” to the victims.

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc is donating P1 million to the typhoon victims through the PLDT-Smart Foundation, as part of the Tulong Kapatid efforts of the MVP group of companies.

The group’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation last Sunday raised P21 million in less than two hours during a telethon.

The company will also send 12,000 units of one-liter bottles, 15,000 one-gallon jugs and 10,000 pieces of bottled water to various public and private organizations. It already deployed 3,000 one-liter bottles and 1,100 one-gallon jugs of water to Alagang Kapatid Foundation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Navy.

In coordination with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Maynilad is also sending water engineers to Tacloban to provide technical assistance in getting the city’s water systems up and running. Water supply in these areas was disrupted because of widespread infrastructure damage.

“Typhoon Yolanda has inflicted unimaginable damage and losses to our countrymen in Visayas. We are committed to helping them recover and pick-up the pieces, in whatever way we can,” said Maynilad president Ricky P. Vargas.

“For those who also want to donate goods, they can drop off their in-kind donations in our Maynilad offices in Cavite, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Quezon City,” Vargas added.

Aboitiz Foundation has raised P30 million, including P5 million pledged by mega star Sharon Cuneta and P25 million by Union Bank of the Philippines.

Cuneta said she is giving a total of P10 million, with the other P5 million coursed through the Alagang Kapatid Foundation. “This is how much I believe in you both. God bless Visayas,” she said.

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of the Aboitiz group earlier set up a command center in the Visayas after shipping relief packs and hygiene kits for 6,500 families in Northern Cebu.

The foundation said donations can be coursed through its UShare portal http://ushare.unionbankph.com/aboitiz/, and through the following bank accounts: Union Bank of the Philippines Account No. 10026-1070944 and City Savings Bank Account No. 200-20031301

Lastly, the San Miguel group has mobilized its business units for the relief efforts, with affiliate Philippine Airlines (PAL) committing to airlift relief goods for free.

Open to government agencies and duly-registered foundations and non-government organizations, the PAL Cargo Humanitarian Grant will transport the following necessities: medicines, medical supplies, powdered milk for infants, hygiene products; toiletries such as new underwear, and ready-to-eat products such as dried fish and dried fruits, which cannot be readily sourced in the affected areas.

The San Miguel Foundation also coordinated with the DSWD to donate thousands of boxes of relief goods, consisting of drinking water and canned meat products.

San Miguel Brewery Inc. is repacking additional relief goods, using its Mandaue Brewery in Cebu as a command center for relief operations and as drop-off point for donations.

Petron Corp meanwhile is tapping its 500 service stations nationwide as drop-off points for donations. The company also said it will establish temporary service stations to ensure reliable fuel supply at the right prices in order to help recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.

source: interaksyon.com

UN to mount urgent appeal for millions of dollars in aid for Philippines

The United Nations on Tuesday will launch an urgent aid appeal expected to seek hundreds of millions of dollars to help the Philippines recover from the ravages of Typhoon “Yolanda” (international codename: Haiyan).

UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos was headed for the Philippines to lead a "flash appeal" for cash, officials said, saying the scale of devastation was so far-reaching that a major emergency effort is needed.

The announcement came as the Pentagon said it had ordered an aircraft carrier, other ships and scores of aircraft that had been on a stop in Hong Kong to head to the stricken archipelago.

Ahead of the emergency appeal, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the aid already pledged but said contributions "must expand urgently in the days ahead," given the sheer damage wrought by Haiyan.

Britain is sending a ship and a transporter plane to assist with the relief effort following the typhoon, which may have killed more than 10,000 people in what is feared to be the worst natural disaster ever to hit the Philippines.

"The scale of devastation is massive and therefore it will require the mobilization of a massive response," John Ging, the UN's humanitarian operations director said, stressing the death toll was expected to rise.

"Many places are strewn with dead bodies," Ging told a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York. "We are certainly expecting the worst. As we get more and more access we find the tragedy of more and more people killed in this typhoon."

Vietnam, itself faced with mass evacuations as a weakened Haiyan swung through its territory Monday, offered aid worth $100,000 and vowed to stand by the Filipino people.

The relief operation was focused on the city of Tacloban on Leyte several days after one of the biggest storms in recorded history demolished entire communities across the central Philippines.

Delivering on a promise of assistance from President Barack Obama, about 180 US Marines were deployed to the Philippines on Monday to support local forces, carry out search and rescue work and help humanitarian efforts on the ground.

Britain's HMS Daring, a destroyer, will sail to the Philippines "at full speed" from its current deployment in Singapore, and will be joined by a Royal Air Force C-17 transport plane, Prime Minister David Cameron said.

Britain will also boost its aid from £6 million ($9.6 million) to £10 million.

The Australian government pledged Aus$10 million ($9.38 million), with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop describing the unfolding tragedy as "absolutely devastating" and on a "massive scale."

The aid will include tarpaulins, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, water containers and health and hygiene kits. A team of Australian medics will leave on Wednesday via a C-17 military transport plane from Darwin to join disaster experts already on the ground, the government said.

Local rescue teams were said to be overwhelmed in their efforts to help those whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed after Yolanda ravaged large swathes of the country on Friday.

Officials were struggling to cope with the scale of death and destruction, with reports of violent looters and scarcity of food, drinking water and shelter.

The UN children's fund UNICEF said a cargo plane carrying 60 tons of aid including shelters and medicine would arrive in the Philippines Tuesday, to be followed by deliveries of water purification and sanitation equipment.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR was also organizing an airlift carrying aid including hygiene kits containing basics such as soap, blankets and underwear.

"The level of destruction we're seeing reported is absolutely staggering," said Antonio Guterres, head of UNHCR.

Other aid mobilized for the Philippines:

The European Commission said it would give three million euros ($4 million) toward relief efforts.
Germany's embassy in Manila said an initial shipment of 23 tons of aid was being flown in and German rescue teams were already at work.
Malaysia also readied a relief crew and cash aid was offered by Taiwan and Singapore.
New Zealand increased its humanitarian relief on Monday, bringing its total to NZ$2.15 million (US$1.78 million), while Canada has promised up to US$5 million to aid organizations.
Medical teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) now in the country.

On the other hand, the Canadian government called on its citizens to donate money towards aiding the Philippines, pledging to match these donations dollar-for-dollar.

MSF said a 15-man team that arrived in Cebu on November 9 is expected to be in Tacloban City on Wednesday with 50 more people -- medical personnel, logisticians and psychologists -- and 329 tons of medical and relief supplies arriving in the next few days.The first cargo plane left Dubai on Monday and a second will depart Belgium on Tuesday.

JICA, on the other hand, said 25 members of the Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team from Tokyo -- doctors, nurses, and other medical experts and personnel -- arrived in Manila on Monday and will be in Tacloban City on Wednesday.

“We join the collective efforts of the local and international community in reaching out to victims of typhoon Yolanda. We are working closely with the Department of Health to help address the health needs of the people affected by this tragedy,” JICA Philippines chief representative Takahiro Sasaki said in a statement.

“It is now Japan’s turn to return support to the Filipinos who helped the Japanese people affected during the Great East Japan Earthquake last March 11, 2011. We are confident that the Filipinos will rise above this challenge, and the recent typhoon will provide a perspective in strengthening disaster preparedness in the long-term,” he added.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Minister of International Development, Christian Paradis, said that, “for every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities in response to the crisis in the Philippines the government will donate an additional dollar -- effectively doubling their contribution.”

The announcement, made on November 9, is aside from Canada’s initial $30,000 allocation to the International Federation of the Red Cross to help launch relief operations.

Paradis also announced that Canada is giving “up to $5 million in support to humanitarian organizations.”

Canada is also deploying the Interdepartmental Strategic Support Team to assess needs on ground and identify potential response options, which could include the Disaster Assistance Response Team.

source: interaksyon.com

Palace says P26.18B available for relief, rehab as House lets go P12B in PDAF for victims

Malacañang said Tusday there is at least P26.18 billion available for relief and rehabilitation in areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” while members of the House of Representatives said they are waiving some P12 billion of their pork barrel this year for the same purpose.

"We wish to assure the public that we’re already moving funds to address the urgent need for disaster relief in all typhoon-stricken areas," Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

The funds and their sources are:

P6.4 billion from the President's Social Fund
P16.6 billion in government savings
P1.08 billion in Quick Relief Funds
P1.28 billion in Calamity Funds
P824 million in Contingency Funds
"Because we only have two more months before the year concludes, however, the more costly rehabilitation requirements will be largely addressed through the 2014 budget," Abad said. "By then, fresh budgetary support will be available to aid all efforts at repairing the damage wrought by Yolanda to the Visayas region.”

“Nonetheless,” he added, “the more urgent post-disaster requirements -- such as the restoration of power, water, and other utilities in all affected communities, as well as the immediate provision of shelter, food, medical and rescue activities, and clearing operations -- will be amply supported by available funds."

At the House, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was joined by other leaders of the chamber and of political parties in filing House Resolution No. 07, which authorizes the executive department to realign the unspent portion of their Priority Development Assistance Fund to the national government’s calamity fund.

However, the amount is currently the subject of a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, which is hearing several petitions to declare the PDAF unconstitutional.

The petitions were filed following revelations that as much as P10 billion in the congressional pork barrel could have been embezzled in a conspiracy that involved lawmakers and other government officials allegedly colluding with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

"We have informed the Solicitor General to make representations with the Supreme Court that we are not interested (in the unreleased PDAF) anymore, provided the same is realigned by the executive to the calamity fund," Belmonte said at a news conference.

He said the estopped pork barrel would boost government’s ability to respond to the needs of Yolanda’s victims.

It could also help in the continued rehabilitation of Bohol and Cebu provinces, which bore the brunt of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Central Visayas last month.

"These disasters have caused massive loss of lives, as well as major damage to property, infrastructure, livelihood and agriculture, bringing much pain and suffering to the Filipino people," the House resolution said.

"Members of Congress express their desire to assist the victims of these disasters and help in the speedy post-disaster recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the provinces affected by the disasters," it added.

Following the scandal triggered by the pork barrel scam, lawmakers removed the P25.2-billion appropriation for PDAF in the proposed 2014 budget and realigned the funds to six government agencies.

House members also pledged P10,000 each from their salaries and to mobilize relief teams at both the Batasan Pambansa and their respective districts, Belmonte said after emerging from a meeting with lawmakers.

The initiative was formalized in House Resolution 446, which will be signed by the 289 House members. They earlier adopted two similar resolutions for donations to the victims of the earthquake in Bohol and Cebu, and the families affected by the fighting in Zamboanga City.

At the same time, Belmonte said the House will support the realignment of certain items in the proposed 2014 budget for a P10-20 billion rehabilitation fund for areas ravaged by calamities.

He said this will be discussed when they sit down with senators in the bicameral conference committee meetings on the budget.

Belmonte called on his colleagues to organize their respective relief drives. "Difficult as the situation, this will really require self-help. Let's not be too dependent on Manila," he said.

Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento said congressional districts can be used as staging points of relief going to the typhoon-hit areas.

He said lawmakers are prepared to help manage the packing and transport of goods that would pass through their districts.

For example, Sarmiento said that Surigao City can be a drop-off point going to Leyte.

Relief items may also be ferried from Cebu City to Ormoc, Leyte.  Iloilo City can take care of goods to be transported to Aklan and Capiz, two other provinces affected by the typhoon.

source: interaksyon.com

US to provide P4.3-M relief aid to flooded areas in PH

The United States on Tuesday said it is providing US$ 100,000, or about P4.3 million, to the Philippines to support disaster relief efforts in Metro Manila following severe flooding caused by the southwest monsoon this week.

U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. issued a disaster declaration after reports of widespread flooding in the National Capital Region, and offered to provide immediate relief assistance.

“On behalf of the U.S. government and the American people, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to those who are displaced and who have lost homes and livelihoods due to the floods,” Thomas said in a statement.

Most parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon have been submerged in flood waters, forcing the cancellation of classes and work.

According to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), there was is no tropical cyclone prevailing in the country but said the heavy downpour was due to the southwest monsoon being pushed by typhoon "Haikui" in Japan.

PAGASA has issued a red warning signal for Metro Manila on Tuesday, warning residents in low-lying areas to evacuate.

A red warning means more than 30 millimeters of rains are expected and serious flooding may occur.

Classes and work were suspended in Metro Manila as well as in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, and Tarlac. Several schools have also suspended classes and work for Wednesday.

Thomas said the US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), would conduct an initial damage assessment in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. “As a good friend and longstanding development partner, the United States will work with the Philippine government to determine where our assistance is most needed. We remain committed to helping the Philippine people overcome this difficult time.” Thomas said.

The US has been a key partner of the Philippines in providing immediate humanitarian response during natural calamities.

source: interaksyon.com