MANILA – Military aircraft from Singapore and Malaysia arrived in the country on Saturday to provide assistance in ongoing relief operations following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami).
A C-130 cargo aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force and a Eurocopter EC725 transport helicopter from the Royal Malaysian Air Force arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said.
The aircraft are set to play a crucial role in bolstering the Philippine Air Force’s ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations in areas affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, according to a statement of Col. Ma. Consular Castillo, chief of PAF Public Affairs Office.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. welcomed the arrival of the aircraft with Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abd Malik Castelino, Singaporean Ambassador Constance See, and PAF Commanding General LtGen Stephen Parreño.
Camarines Sur relief efforts
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) stepped up its relief operations in the province of Camarines Sur, one of the hardest hit areas of Kristine.
Two Urban Search and Rescue Teams of the 525th Combat Engineer “Forerunner” Battalion distributed around 1, 100 food packs and 18 boxes of drinking water for families in Barangays San Miguel, San Ramon, Umbao, Causip and San Roque in Bula town.
The PA also mobilized additional mobility assets and personnel to help flooded residents in other areas in the Bicol Region.
The Army leadership assured full support for HADR teams that are deployed in various areas to conduct swift and effective rescue and relief operations in close coordination with local government units and national government agencies. (With Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)