UNITED NATIONS Undersecretary General John Holmes will arrive today to meet with government officials handling disaster response and relief activities for victims of storm ‘Ondoy’ and typhoon ‘Pepeng.’

Holmes will be here for two days as reported by Hilario Davide, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN.

Holmes’ visit comes on the heels of a flash appeal launched by the UN in Geneva last week to member-countries in a bid to raise $74 million to help flood victims in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

The amount is the largest-ever UN humanitarian assistance for the Philippines.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has already allotted $7 million for the Philippines emergency from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

The UN response was in accordance with the September 29 appeal by the Philippine government to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Three Roman Catholic bishops in Pangasinan said massive relief operations for victims of Pepeng are already in place.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan said they immediately released disaster funds as soon as relief operations were possible.

Bishop Marlo Peralta of Alaminos, said the diocese’s social action center has already sent aid to affected residents.

Bishop Jacinto Jose of Urdaneta said relief goods raised by the diocese originally meant for Ondoy victims in Metro Manila will now be allocated instead to local residents.

At least 30 towns in Pangasinan were submerged due to the combined rainfall and the sudden release of water from dams.

Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) will launch special flights to bring relief goods and basic commodities to Batanes in response to a food shortage in that province.

Avelino Zapanta, SEAIR president, said the flights will be carrying relief packs containing rice, canned goods, powdered milk, sugar, noodles and biscuits.

Zapanta said SEAIR will continue to accept donations for Ondoy’s flood victims as well as aid for the Batanes food shortage until October 16.

He said prospective donors can contact SEAIR Call Center at 849-0100.

He said SEAIR is also participating in a food distribution program to provide thousands of flood victims in Marikina and Tanay, Rizal with hot meals.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc, and SM Supermalls also responded to the call for rescue and relief operations in Pangasinan.

The company, in utilizing its resources, as well as employing the help of the Navy, conducted evacuation efforts as well as started sending relief goods to the province.

The efforts were led by SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans T. Sy who personally flew to Rosales, Pangasinan to oversee and participate in the operations.

SM Supermalls president Annie S. Garcia is overseeing the packing of relief goods that will be sent to Pangasinan through the effort of Operation Tulong Express where donation bins have been placed in all SM Supermalls.

This is in partnership with Caritas Manila (For Typhoon Ondoy victims) and SM Foundation, Inc.

Philippine National Red Cross chair Sen. Richard Gordon mobilized volunteers of PNRC, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Coast Guard to rescue thousands of families affected by flooding in Pangasinan

In coordination with the US military and the Philippine military, Gordon sent six rubber boats with six teams from the PNRC National Headquarters. These groups were dispatched to Rosales, Villasis and Lingayen.

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Rome donated 10,000 euros through the Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’ to assist the Philippine government in its rehabilitation and relief operations,

The donation is in addition to the $50,000 turned-over by Ambassador Donald C.T. Lee, representative of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office, to Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

The Taiwan government has also sent medical missions.

The Taiwan International Health Action (Taiwan IHA) medical mission, composed of six doctors and nurses, specializes in respiratory, digestive and skin ailments. The medical mission arrived in Manila last October 6.

The Taiwanroot Medical Peace Corps’ mission visit, co-sponsored by the Women’s Federation for World Peace, is composed of about 30 doctors and nurses, provided medical care from Oct. 6 -11. The medical mission also donated 200 tons of rice.

A local medical mission organized by the Taiwan Association and TECO composing of 100 doctors and nurses provided free treatment yesterday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Parañaque National High School.

In 2008 the same medical group gave free medical care to 6,500 patients in Mindanao.