By Francis Wakefield
The Army's 7th Infantry Division said it continues to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Rescue (HADR) operations for persons affected by Typhoon "Ompong" that hit Northern and Central Luzon over the weekend.
The 69th Infantry (Cougar) Battalion, 7ID, PA, conducting rescue operations at Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija on September 16, 2018. (Photo courtesy of 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Typhoon Ompong with an international name “Mangkhut” was the strongest typhoon that hit the country this year and had a diameter of 900 kilometers affecting a huge part of Luzon.
All of the provinces under the 7th ID’s area of responsibility that are in Northern and Central Luzon were directly hit and greatly affected by the typhoon which placed the division on red alert.
In a statement, the 7th ID said a total of 114 Disaster Rescue Operation (DRO) teams composed of 1,025 personnel are still deployed in Abra, portion of Mt. Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, portion of Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora, conducting HADR Operations.
The division also committed 87 military trucks and eight watercraft to include the newly procured rubber boat in the conduct of rescue operations for victims of landslides and flooding.
As of Sunday, DRO Teams of the 7th ID conducted a total of 61 HADR operations which included rescue operations, relief distribution, preemptive evacuation and road clearing operations that benefited 66,332 individuals.
The commander of the 7th ID, Maj. Gen. Felimon T. Santos, said brigade and battalion commanders down to the squad level remain in close coordination with the LGUs (local government units) and respective disaster risk reduction management units in different provinces to make sure that no one in the area will be left unattended.
Santos said the DRO teams of the 7th ID are committed to serve the people having worked round the clock to respond to the needs of the affected populace and will continue to do so until the threat of the storm has passed and the people are back to their normal lives.
"Our teams will never leave the area until everyone is safe and we will continue to assist the LGUs provide the needs of the people," Santos said.
"Rescue operation is an essential skill that a soldier must have and the 7th ID made sure that each Kaugnay trooper is equipped and ready for calamities like this," he added.