THE PHILIPPINES Ferry's sinking adds to grief after mudslide, flood losses

Southern Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias declared a state of calamity in her province.
SAN FRANCISCO, Philippines (AP) -- The Philippine president flew today to the devastated island of Leyte, where authorities declared a calamity after weekend floods and mudslides that killed at least 160 people in the region.
In another disaster, the Philippine navy and coast guard said dozens of people remained missing from a ferry that sank with 75 people aboard in rough seas southwest of Manila on Sunday.
At least 20 people have been rescued, and the coast guard said today one of its planes spotted up to 12 people with life vests floating about 30 miles east of Malaysia's Bankawan island.
"This new tragedy comes at a time when we are still grieving for our countrymen who were killed in landslides," President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said, as she surveyed the damage in the San Francisco area of Leyte island and met with survivors and victims' relatives.
State of calamity
Leyte and the southern island of Mindanao, both near the Pacific Ocean, were worst hit by the floods and mudslides unleashed Friday and Saturday after a week of pounding rains. Authorities said 133 of the victims were on Leyte, while 27 were on Mindanao.
Arroyo was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, officials said. She said she would mobilize "all the available resources of the government" to help in the recovery operation and called on Filipinos "to open up their compassion and generosity to the victims."
Southern Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias declared a state of calamity in her province late Monday in a bid to speed up delivery of emergency supplies and to secure recovery funds.