The U.S. government on Monday sent an initial $100,000 in emergency aid for families of the victims of a Philippine ferry disaster, the State Department said. The donation—the maximum amount that can be sent to the U.S. embassy in Manila without authorization from Congress—was forwarded to the Philippine Red Cross, department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. A U.S. Navy ship was expected to arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday to help search for victims where the ferry capsized in a typhoon on Saturday near Sibuyan, about 150 kilometers south of Manila. On a visit to the United States, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo thanked the United States for its help. “We're deeply grateful for the response by the U.S. government, including the U.S. Navy,” she told reporters in Washington after meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. The ferry, carrying about 750 people, capsized over the weekend in rough weather. So far, 36 people from the ferry have been found alive, raising hopes that more could be located on the many nearby islands.
