OCD: 4 countries sending air assets for relief operations

MANILA, Philippines — Four countries will send their air assets to the Philippines to assist in relief operations in areas devastated by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday.

OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have signified their intention to send their air assets to the country.

Among these are C-130 aircraft and helicopters which can help in transporting relief goods to communities affected by the cyclone.

“Any additional help is a sign of solidarity with our partners,” Nepomuceno said at a news forum in the Dapo Restaurant and Bar in Quezon City.

He said other countries have signified their intention to send assistance to relief efforts.

A day after Kristine left the country’s area of responsibility, relief aid started pouring in to Bicol and other regions that were flooded, brought about by incessant rains from the storm.

Nepomuceno particularly cited Bicol, where floodwaters have started receding, allowing mobility assets to deliver relief supplies to affected residents.

He said relief goods from the Visayas and Mindanao were brought to the Matnog Port in Sorsogon by Navy vessels.

Nepomuceno said access roads are being cleared of mud and other debris, so that relief supplies can be delivered to the affected areas by land.

At least 81 people died due to the effects of Kristine based on the OCD’s data as of yesterday morning. Nepomuceno is hoping the figure would no longer increase.

The number of families staying in evacuation centers is about 82,900 or 311,468 persons. The figure does not include the 138,131 households or 610,921 who took shelter with their loved ones.

Apart from Bicol, Nepomuceno said relief efforts are also ongoing in Calabarzon, particularly in Batangas and Cavite, which are among the hardest-hit provinces in the country.

Nepomuceno assured the communities they have enough food packs to supply communities.

The 200 police officers from Eastern Visayas who are part of a humanitarian contingent arrived in Bicol on Saturday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said another police contingent from Calabarzon is also headed for Bicol.

Two PNP helicopters were deployed to Bicol to assess the situation in the region to determine where to bring relief goods from Camp Crame, Fajardo said in a message to journalists on Viber.

Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed the 44-meter patrol ship BRP Cabra to bring relief goods to the Bicol region.

The ship left the Port of Manila yesterday and will arrive at the Pasacao Port in Camarines Sur today, according to an advisory from the PCG.

The BRP Cabra is carrying boxes containing rice, purified drinking water, canned goods, noodles and coffee. The food packs came from a donation by the ACT-CIS Party-list, which gave P1 million and 1,000 sacks of rice to the PCG.

The deployment of the PCG patrol vessel was in accordance with an order from PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, to use all assets of the agency to help in recovery efforts, following the onslaught of Kristine.

Meanwhile, the PCG’s Civil Relations Service received “300 pails of relief packs” from Operation Brotherhood (OB) Montessori Center yesterday.

The relief packs containing essential supplies would also be given to victims of Kristine in the Bicol region.

Aside from relief, the PCG reported its personnel remained active in relief and recovery efforts in areas inundated by the storm.

On rescue boats, PCG personnel distributed food boxes from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Barangay Sta. Barbara in the municipality of Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Presidential helicopter

On orders of President Marcos, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is now using the presidential helicopter to bring relief goods to typhoon-affected areas of Albay in the Bicol Region.

PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the Bell 412 presidential helicopter is being used to deliver essential relief supplies to communities affected by Kristine.

“The helicopter transported goods from Tactical Operations Group 5 going to Libon, Albay, facilitating rapid aid distribution to impacted areas,” Castillo announced yesterday.

She noted that during the mission, a PAF Black Hawk and Huey helicopters were also used for disaster relief operations. — Ghio Ong, Jose Rodel Clapano, Michael Punongbayan