THE fiscal dam has broken. Finance Secretary Margarito Teves told a press conference on Wednesday the January-to-October deficit stood at P266.1 billion, more than four times larger than the year-ago level.

This has surpassed the then-record-high deficit of P210.7 billion, in 2002—at that time equivalent to 5.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Shell Petroleum and Petron have announced actions in compliance with their promise to President Arroyo to help further Ondoy and Pepeng victims, and this includes discounts to transport groups—in the same amount it increased prices after the price freeze was lifted—in the devastated areas.

Executive Order 845 lifting the oil-price freeze asks oil companies to implement a more targeted and focused calamity-assistance program in identified calamity-affected areas such as Benguet, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Eastern Laguna, Rizal, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Isabela, Cainta, Marikina, Malabon and Pasig.

WITH the increase in the number of affected families in the latest Typhoon Mirinae (local name Santi) that hit the Philippines, the United Nations has increased its flash appeal for disaster-aid fund from $74 million to $144 million.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said of the $74-million flash appeal for typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) that was launched in September, only $26 million has so far been
received.