Press Advisory re Humanitarian Mission in Isabela

LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)

Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Saturday, 24 October 2010

WHO: Philippine Navy Task Force Amianan Recovery

WHAT: Recovery, Relief and Rehabilitation Operation in Isabela

WHEN: 24 October 2010 @ 12 nn

WHERE: Commodore Divino Pier, Headquarters Philippine Navy, 2335 Pres M Roxas, Blvd, Manila

DETAILS:

Due to the extreme devastation brought about by super typhoon “Juan” in the country, specifically in the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, and more particularly in the municipalities of Palanan, Maconacon and other neighboring coastal towns, that were practically flattened from typhoon, local government sought for help. Responding to the call, Lieutenant General Gaudencio S Pangilinan, Commander, Northern Luzon Command initiated the creation of a task force and called on the Philippine Navy units under his operational command to organized a task force. In that regard, Rear Admiral Danilo M Cortez, the Flag Officer In Command of the Philippine Navy organized a task force and designated Commodore Edgar Abogado, Commander of Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), to be the Task Force commander.

The Naval contingent that comprises the task force will proceed to Isabela through a logistics support vessel, BRP Dagupan City (LC 551). Included in the task force are four naval combat engineering teams from the Naval Construction Brigade. Two teams will conduct vertical construction while the other two teams will conduct horizontal construction. Apart from that, 60-man rescue teams, under the operational control of NFNL, have been converted from rescue to recovery, relief and rehabilitation teams. Also included in the task force are BRP Alfredo Peckson (PG 372), a Navy 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.

Other concerned agencies, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development, moving from Metro Manila to Palanan, Maconacon and other neighboring coastal towns of Isabela will board LC 551 tomorrow.

Commodore Abogado initiated the coordination with other institution. As of press time, the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.’s Sagip Kapamilya committed 500 packs of assorted goods, 500 packs of clothes and bottled water for this mission.

In this regard, we are calling all benevolent institutions to help us in this humanitarian operation. Interested party may send their relief goods through the Philippine Navy for our brothers in Isabela. LC 551 will depart from the Navy headquarters at noon on Sunday, 24 October 2010 to Isabela.

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. This is another manifestation that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Navy are dependable partners in nation building specially in this time of disaster and calamity and dependable partners in times of relief, rescue, rehabilitation and other difficult situation.

Interested parties may coordinate with LTJG LIEZL M VIDALLON PN at mobile telephone number 0916-242-9920 for other details.

Updates on Philippine Navy’s effort icow typhoon “Juan” as of 211200H Oct 2010

By LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)

Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Thursday, 21 October 2010

The Philippine Navy’s Disaster Response and Rescue Teams (DRRT) deployed in Northern Luzon had shifted from response and rescue operations to relief operations to bring basic needs to the local residents affected by typhoon “Juan”. Following are the updates from Naval Forces Northern Luzon as of 12nn, 21 October 2010:

• 40 families were rescued and evacuated from four (4) of 13 flooded barangays of Dagupan, Pangasinan to evacuation centers by Philippine Fleet DRRT and DSWD employees
• 136 people benefitted from the medical mission conducted in Malued Dagupan, and Bgy Binteng-Sapilag, Rosario, La Union
• The Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOU), acting on a tip from two townsfolk, retrieved the dead body of a drowning victim, Jannel M Flores, 9yrs old of Bgy Salisay, Dagupan City
• In coordination with the local TV Station of GMA in Dagupan City, distributed 40 sacks containing 400 packs of assorted goods in Bgy Talebaew, Calasiao, Pangasinan;
• In coordination with DSWD, distributed 2,000 packs of relief goods to evacuation center in Pangasinan.

Navy Rescue Teams Deploy to Cagayan, Ilocos Areas

By: LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)

Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Monday, 18 October 2010

The Philippine Navy’s Disaster Response and Rescue Teams (DRRT) have been dispatched to areas in Cagayan and Ilocos regions this afternoon, 18 October 2010 as the alert level for “Juan” was raised to number 4. The rescue teams from the Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) and Philippine Fleet will undertake rescue and relief operations and assist LGUs in that part directly to be hit by “Juan”.

One team each were dispatched to the following areas: Sta Ana, Cagayan; Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; and Candon City, Ilocos Sur. These teams are composed of an aggregate total of five officers and 44 enlisted personnel. They are equipped with rubber boats with OBM and trailer trucks loaded with assorted life-saving paraphernalia. These include life vests, life rings, submersible pumps, portable generators, medical kits, and cutting tools. Meanwhile, four reserve teams are prepositioned in San Fernando, City, La Union along with two teams of Marines as force protection.

Navy rescue teams have also been dispatched to Wallace, Poro Pt, La Union; Naguilian, La Union; and Bonuan, La Union. Augmenting these teams are 80 naval reservists.

At 9 AM today, a 17-man team based at the Vigan Capitol proceeded to the NFA warehouse in Vigan to haul 50 sacks of rice. The goods will be transported to the Capitol for distribution to residents who will be affected by “Juan”. Said team has been dispatched to Laoag and will be replaced by another team from the NFNL Command based in La Union.

Two more rescue teams are on a standby at the Philippine Fleet Headquarters in Sangley Pt, Cavite City for deployment to any designated area upon signal from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The Command is also organizing more teams as ready reserve and will be deployed as the need arises. Also on standby are two teams (with four officers and 24 enlisted personnel) based at the Naval Education and Training Command, Sn Antonio, Zambales.

Gaining lessons from last year’s experience with “Ondoy”, the Philippine Navy has upped the level of its preparedness in terms of training, new and better equipment, and coordination with local agencies. “I call on Filipinos to cooperate with the Navy and authorities in observing precautions,” said Rear Admiral Danilo M Cortez, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy. He added that heeding this call would not only keep Filipinos out of harms’ way but would also lessen the damage to properties and help local officials in responding during emergency situations.

Philippine Navy is All Set for the Conduct of CARAT and PHIBLEX

By LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)

Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Wednesday, 06 October 2010

Sailors and marines of the Philippine Navy stand to benefit militarily in a nine-day training while civilians from Central Luzon stand to gain in humanitarian assistance and development projects American sailors and marines will undertake in tandem with their Filipino counterparts.

More than 3,000 sailors, marines, and aviators to include logistics support units of the US Navy and the US Marines have arrived for the exercises namely: CARAT and PHIBLEX. Around 6 US Navy vessels and 3 aircrafts participate in this annual event that involve five Philippine Navy ships and around 1,000-strong PN contingent of sailors and marines.

CARAT or Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training between ships and sailors of the two countries kicks-off 13th of October at Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Zambales and winds up in a closing ceremony on the 22th of October also in the same venue. It shall be comprised of "in-port" and "at-sea" training activities. Included in the "in-port" events are: Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, community service activities like medical/dental/engineering civic action and other humanitarian activities. Meanwhile, "at sea" events are comprised of Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure Procedure, Maritime Interdiction Operations, Maritime Surveillance, and Naval Gunfire Support, among others.

PHIBLEX or Amphibious Landing Exercise will involve American and Filipino marines and amphibious vehicles. A boat raid exercise will be held in Marine Base Ternate in Cavite and a mechanized raid will be had in the coast of Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales. It will commence on the 14th of October in an opening rites at Clark, Pampanga and closes on the 22nd of October at the Philippine Marine Corps Headquarters at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown at the Naval Station Jose Francisco in Taguig City.

The exercises hope to attain inter-operability between the two armed services of both countries. Particularly, it seeks to bolster the inter-operability of the participating country's armed services in territorial defense in pursuit of our national defense strategy.

Navy Statement re Capability Demonstration by the Naval Special Operations Group (NavSOG) 10 Sep 2010 at the NavSOG Hqs, Sangley Point, Cavite

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

Friday, 10 September 2010

 This demonstration by the Navy’s Special Operations
Group is part of the President’s and Commander-in-Chief’s
inspection and capability assessment of the AFP units
under his command;

 This is, by its nature, an actual briefing for the
CIC to learn about the competency and expertise of the
Philippine Navy to appraise him as to the options available
to him during crises situations like hostage-taking,
hijacking, piracy, and the like;

 By such appraisal, we made the CIC aware that he
has the control, so to speak, of the buttons that represent
all the AFP’s elite units available at his disposal – it’s
just a matter of him knowing which button to press to
address any given emergency situation.