The BRP Gabriela Silang, the biggest ship of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), will leave Manila Wednesday afternoon for Bicol to bring food packs and other supplies to communities badly affected by super typhoon “Rolly.”
The Coast Guard said BRP Gabriela Silang will depart Manila around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
“Handang-handa na ang BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) sa biyahe mula Maynila papuntang Bicol para maghatid ng relief supplies sa ating mga kababayang apektado ng bagyong ‘Rolly’ (BRP Gabriela Silang is now ready to leave Manila for Bicol to bring relief supplies to our fellowmen affected by typhoon ‘Rolly’),” Admiral George Ursabia Jr., Coast Guard commandant said.
Ursabia added the ship is loaded with around 3,000 boxes of food packs, around 4,000 bottles of purified drinking water, and additional 400 gallons of mineral water, 2,000 boxes of kitchen kits, 1,000 boxes of hygiene kits, 450 pieces of sleeping kits, and 450 pieces of mosquito nets from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The PCG and PCG Auxiliary also added 870 boxes of food packs, 70 sacks of rice, one unit portable generator, and two “balikbayan” (returning Filipino) boxes of other essential supplies.
BRP Gabriela Silang came from Bacolod City where it took shelter during the onslaught of Rolly over the weekend.
“Agad itong bumiyahe pa-Maynila para makatulong sa relief operation ng DSWD. Sa mga oras na ito, naghihintay na lamang ng direktiba ang BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) bago tuluyang bumiyahe pa-Bicol (It immediately came back to Manila to help in the relief operation of DSWD. At this point, the ship is just waiting for a directive to start voyage),” Ursabia said.
The ship is expected to arrive in the Bicol region by Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.
Meanwhile, four boom trucks were also deployed by the Coast Guard Tuesday night to bring the relief goods donated by the GMA Kapuso Foundation for the typhoon victims.