An armored assault vehicle is positioned near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City yesterday as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Marines.

Photo by Manny Marcelo
Philippine Star, Friday, November 5, 2010

Relief Goods for Typhoon Victims

By Candice Reyes

Manila Bulletin, Monday, 25 October 2010

Navy Personnel load relief goods donated by various organizations into the Navy ship LC 551 at the Navy headquarters on Roxas Blvd., Manila yesterday, Oct. 24, 2010. The relief goods will be delivered to typhoon-affected communities in Isabela.

Navy steps up relief operations

By iris Gonzales

The Philippine Star, Monday, 25 October 2010

Meanwhile, the military has created a task force that will conduct relief and rehabilitation efforts in Isabela.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the task force, to be led by Commodore Edgar Abogado, consists of engineering and rescue teams backed by various military assets.

He said the creation of the task force was in response to the appeal of local officials whose areas were practically flattened due to the typhoon.

“This is our effort to help our needy fellow Filipinos in that devastated area. The Philippine Navy will serve as link between our people and those who want to help them,” Arevalo said in a statement.

The task force will proceed to Isabela via logistics support vessel BRP Dagupan City, which left the Navy headquarters in Manila yesterday noon.

Included in the contingent are four naval combat engineering teams from the Naval Construction Brigade.

Arevalo said a 60-man rescue team under the Naval Forces Northern Luzon has been transformed to recovery, relief and rehabilitation teams.

Other Navy assets to be used for the relief operations are the BRP Alfredo Peckson, an aircraft, and three M35 trucks.

“A communications van that will serve as hub will also be included to link the different military units in the area since the communications was down,” Arevalo said.

He said the task force is also coordinating with other state agencies and private institutions to assist the typhoon victims.

“We are calling all benevolent institutions to help us in this humanitarian operation. Interested parties may send their relief goods through the Philippine Navy for our brothers in Isabela,” Arevalo said.

Navy goes from rescue to relief operations

By Elena L Aben

The Philippine Navy has shifted from disaster response, rescue and recovery operations to road clearing and relief operations as typhoon "Juan" continued to move forward South China Sea.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy Public Affairs Office (NPAO) director, said 250 regular and 200 reservists of the Navy's Disaster Response and Rescue Teams (DDRT) were deployed in the affected areas of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte; Vigan, Narvacan and Candon City in Ilocos Sur; and San Fernando, Bonuan, and Naguilan in La Union to distribute relief goods to affected families.

A medical team was deployed to provide assistance to families in the evacuation centers.

Five Navy vessels and an aircraft were also placed on standby.

As soon as the sky clears, Arevalo said navy aircraft will be dispatched to conduct reconnaisance to assess the extent of typhoon "Juan's" damage.