Almost a week after typhoon "Odette" unleashed its fury particularly over the Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has now focused its drive on its relief operations in Bohol, Surigao, Leyte, Palawan and Cebu.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 21, the PCG’s MRVV-4401 (BRP Tubbataha) arrived in Tagbilaran, Bohol to unload 30 sacks of rice, two drums of gasoline, a generator set, a box of canned tuna, and four rolls of tarpaulin.
Other vessels utilized by the PCG are OPV-8301 (BRP Gabriela Silang), which arrived at the EVA Macapagal Terminal, Surigao City, MRRV-4409 (BRP Cabra) at Ormoc City in Leyte, SARV-3502 (BRP Nueva Vizcaya) at Lapuz Wharf in Iloilo City.
MRRV-4407 (BRP Sindangan) arrived at Surigao with 250 passengers and 22 motorcycles, MRRV-4411 (BRP Cape Engaño) arrived at Puerto Princesa Port in Palawan, while MRRV-4408 (BRP Cape San Agustin) is now off Sibago Island, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM) carrying bottles of mineral water, flashlights with batteries, sacks of rice, and other relief items from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
MRRV-4410 (BRP Bagacay) is now enroute to Surigao City carrying food packs, bottled water, and sacks of rice, while MRRV-4402 (MALABRIGO) carried communications personnel, bottled water, and fuel, and is now off Manlibat Point in Cebu.
Other PCG vessels, on the other hand, are being prepared and will depart to unload relief items.
These are AE-46 (BRP Bojeador), which is now in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, SARV-5605 (BRP Batangas) in Roxas City, Palawan, TB-271 (BRP Habagat) in Manila to depart for Negros Occidental, AE-891 (BRP Corregidor) in Manila to depart for Palawan, MRRV-4404 (BRP Capones) is loading construction materials in Palawan to depart for the Kalayaan Island Group.
As for MMOV-5001 (BRP Lapu Lapu), the vessel left Pier 13 in Manila South Harbor with personnel of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources en route to Lucena City in Quezon.
PCG Commandant, Admiral Leopoldo Laroya said relief operations will continue and the PCG will deliver items to different parts of the country.
“We all know the drill. I am confident that our men and women will be able to serve our fellow kababayans in this time they are most needed with patriotism, compassion, and fear of God,” said Laroya.
“Let us all pray for the safety of our first responders so they could best serve those who are in need," he added.