Navy shift its operations from response and rescue to clearing and relief operations

By: LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

The Philippine Navy (PN) shifts from disaster response, rescue and recovery operations to road clearing operations and relief operations as typhoon “Juan” leaves the Philippines leaving wreckage on its path.

Twenty-three PN Disaster Response and Rescue Teams (DRRT), with an aggregated composition of 250 regular and 200 reservists, were deployed in the affected areas of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Vigan, Narvacan and Candon City in Ilocos Sur, San Fernando, Bonuan, and Naguillan in La union. Five Navy vessels and an aircraft were also placed on standby for this operation: BRP Rajah Humabon (PF 11), BRP Dagupan City (LC 551), BRP Rizal (PS 74), BRP Alberto Navarrete (PG 394) and Diesel Fast Craft 317(DF 317) and Philippine Navy Islander (PNI) 320.

A team from Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), in tandem with PNP, was deployed to Brgy Talogtog, Candon City, Ilocos Sur and started to distribute relief goods to families. Another team was also dispatched to Brgy Villarica and distributed relief goods to 41 individuals. Meanwhile, another team completed road clearing operations in Brgy Langlangca, Candon City.

Commodore Edgar Abogado, Commander, NFNL said that several DRRT were dispatched to respond to the call of the Department of Social Welfare and development (DSWD) and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) in the distribution of relief goods and in conducting assessment of the damage. Distribution of relief goods in Ilocos Sur and La Union are now ongoing. Initially, 14 barangays with 121 families in Ilocos Sur and 37 barangays with 1, 027 families in La Union benefit from the relief operations.


Medical personnel who are part of the PNART were already in evacuation centers to assess the situation and to provide necessary assistance. As soon as weather permits, PNI 320 will take off to conduct reconnaissance and assess the extent of damage brought by typhoon “Juan”.

Meanwhile, a rescue team from the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales was dispatched around 4 PM today to Sitio Liwa-Liwa, San Felipe town. The 14-man team was equipped with 2 rubber boats with OBM and a trailer truck loaded with assorted life-saving paraphernalia. These include life vests, life rings, submersible pumps, portable generators, medical kits, and cutting tools.

The Philippine Navy continues to coordinate with the local government units in those areas to determine the needed preparation for the final phase of the operations, the rehabilitation phase.