US sends needed aid to Julian-stricken Batanes
Metro Manila, Philippines — The United States deployed aircraft to help transport aid and supplies to Batanes, which Super Typhoon Julian battered last week.
US military planes carried personnel and equipment to assist in relief efforts in Batanes, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Saturday, Oct. 4.
They sent the following to the province: 1,000 family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development; 1,000 shelter repair kits from the Office of Civil Defense; and 2,500 International Organization for Migration (IOM) graded tarpaulin sheets and 1,000 IOM kitchen sets.
The NDRRMC said two KC-1307 Hercules aircraft from the US III Marine Expeditionary Force landed at Villamor Air Base on Saturday afternoon.
"Initially, the KC-130Js were scheduled to fly directly to Batanes; however, following a thorough assessment by US counterparts in collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, it was determined that the runway at Batanes airport might be compromised due to the heavy weight of the aircraft," the NDRRMC explained.
"Consequently, the planes will instead transport supplies to Laoag Airport, from where goods will be further distributed to Batanes using US MV2 and CH5-1 aircraft," it added.
Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro thanked the US government whose assistance he said was "vital as we work to rebuild and provide for our communities affected by the super typhoon."
The NDRRMC reported on Sunday that "Julian" affected more than 317,000 people across Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region. It also damaged at least 2,456 houses in these three regions.
Disaster management officials confirmed five dead, eight hurt, and one missing amid the onslaught of the super typhoon.
The NDRRMC recorded P934 million worth of infrastructure damage.
The Department of Agriculture tallied P551 million worth of agricultural damage, including irrigation facilities and other farm structures. Lost commodities were rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock and poultry.
