AFP-US troops speed up relief in typhoon-hit areas
CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City
Soldiers from Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) and US troops from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade have shifted their efforts to relief operations in the northern provinces devastated by floods and cut off by landslides as the death toll and damages from the two consecutive typhoons continue to rise.
In coordination with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), NOLCOM Disaster Response Task Force (NDRTF) spearheaded the delivery of 36.1 tons of relief goods to calamity victims in La Union, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.
As early as 1:30 a.m. Sunday, 10 tons of food packs courtesy of ABS-CBN were motored to affected families in Baguio City.
On the same day, 5.3 tons of assorted food packs, native mats and blankets were brought by soldiers to Lingayen, Pangasinan aboard M35 trucks.
Joint RP-US troops also delivered 16.3 tons of assorted food packs and clothing in the said municipality.
Army unit of the 7th Infantry Division in Licab, Nueva Ecija served as drop point of 4.5 tons of food packs last Sunday that were eventually delivered to evacuees in dire need of relief assistance.
Since Friday, a Combined Coordination Cell (CCC) has been established at NOLCOM Headquarters, particularly at the Command Information Office (CIO), which is manned by AFP and US soldiers on a 24-7 basis.
Its task is to coordinate and integrate disaster response and humanitarian assistance efforts of the US Disaster and Relief Contingent to the overall rescue and relief efforts of the Command in Northern Luzon.
A joint medical-dental mission is being conducted by AFP and US troops in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
The US troops have been holding military exercises in Clark but opted to divert their civil-military operations (CMO) efforts in flood-stricken areas. (PNA)
Tags:
military, operations, philippine, relief, us
Posted at: 14:32 | Add Comment
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