TWO KC-130J transport aircraft of the US Air Force landed at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday afternoon, carrying supplies for victims of super typhoon “Julian” in Batanes.
Nearly 92,000 families in three regions — Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region — were affected by Julian which left the Philippine area of responsibility last Friday.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said the planes, which came from the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, arrived at the Villamor Air Base with “crucial humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies,” the OCD said.
It was also carrying equipment and an undetermined number of US personnel who will be assisting in the continuing relief operations in Batanes.
The aircraft were initially scheduled to land directly in Batanes but “it was determined that the runway at Batanes airport might be compromised due to the heavy weight of the aircraft,” the OCD said.
“Consequently, the planes will instead transport supplies to Laoag Airport (in Ilocos Norte), from where goods will be further distributed to Batanes using US MV2 and CH5-1 aircraft,” the OCD said in a statement.
A Philippine Air Force C-130 landed at the Batanes airport on Saturday with “essential goods” but it is way smaller and lighter compared to the US KC-130J aircraft.
“This mission is part of the US government’s ongoing commitment to disaster relief efforts, facilitated through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),” the OCD said.
“The arrival of these supplies marks a significant step towards restoring normalcy and supporting the affected families in Batanes as the Philippines continues to recover,” it also said.
GRATITUDE
Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr thanked the US for assisting in the disaster response and relief operations.
“Their assistance is vital as we work to rebuild and provide for our communities affected by the super typhoon,” said Teodoro.
NDRRMC executive director and OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said the mission indicates “strong partnership” between the Philippines and US.
“We appreciate the commitment of our US counterparts in providing much-needed relief to those affected by this disaster,” he said.
In a radio interview, Nepomuceno said 60 tons of lumber will be transported by a Philippine Navy ship to Batanes for the reconstruction of houses that were damaged by Julian. The ship is scheduled to arrive at the Batanes port on Friday.
Nepomuceno said over 2,200 houses in Batanes were damaged by Julian.
The NDRRMC said as of yesterday morning, 91,871 families or 317,671 persons were affected by Julian in 912 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
From 3,823 families (13,177 persons) displaced by Julian, the number was down to just 70 families or 248 persons yesterday.
Five persons were confirmed dead — two in Ilocos Norte (both drowning), two in Ilocos Sur (both drowning) and one in Cagayan (electrocution). One, reported to have been swept by strong currents in Abra, remained missing.
The NDRRMC said the cost of damage to infrastructure in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and CAR was about P934.5 million.
The cost of damage to agriculture in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley was placed at P321.44 million.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had the same figures for the displaced families. It said they were from 950 barangays in the three regions.
The DSWD also said over than P44.1 million worth of food and non-food relief items has been provided to the affected families.
President Marcos Jr. on Friday visited areas devastated by Julian in Batanes and Ilocos Norte and led the distribution of some P610 million in financial assistance and services to the affected areas. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
