Photo taken on November 13, 2013 at Philippine Coast Guard HQ with officials of the three participating bodies: Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena for the Coast Guard, Dr. Rodrigo Ong for Rescue Team 926, Consul Buddy Cunanan representing the South African contingent.

The Honorary Consulate of Georgia is participating in the relief effort for typhoon-devastated Leyte and surrounding provinces. Over ten million people were affected by the storm, the strongest in history and 3.5 times more powerful than Hurricane Katrina in the United States, that laid waste to vast areas and ravaged thousands of communities.

In this regard, the Honorary Consulate of Georgia, led by Consul Thelmo Cunanan Jr and using his extensive network of local and international contacts, has helped in the formation of a humanitarian mission composed of medical personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, private disaster response unit Rescue Team 926, Inc, and South African doctors and trauma nurses. The joint Philippine Coast Guard – Rescue Team 926 – South African medical mission will soon set sail for Tacloban, Leyte aboard PCG vessels. Currently, the composite team is awaiting the arrival of additional supplies and the 35-member South African contingent on November 15, 2013.

The deployment of the South African doctors was a joint initiative of Consul Cunanan, in partnership with Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Cape Town, Steven Chaimowitz. Parties who are interested to help may contact the consulate’s economic director Norman Camungol at +63917 4996284.

(Photo taken on November 13, 2013 at Philippine Coast Guard HQ with officials of the three participating bodies: Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena for the Coast Guard, Dr. Rodrigo Ong for Rescue Team 926, Consul Buddy Cunanan representing the South African contingent.)