The Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) joined government responders in conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations for the victims of the strong earthquake that shook Abra and other parts of Luzon on Wednesday, July 27.
The 5th Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Battalion (5ID, 24IB) launched disaster response operations and deployed two squads to assist the victims in the capital town of Bangued.
Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA commanding general, placed all Army disaster response teams in Northern Luzon on alert as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of possible aftershocks, particularly in the epicenter of the earthquake in Abra.
Philippine Army personnel from the 5th Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Battalion (5ID, 24IB) conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations for earthquake victims in Bangued, Abra on April 27, 2022. ( Philippine Army) @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/xfiCfs4itR
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Initial assessment of PA personnel showed that the provincial capitol building in Abra sustained damages and cracks while several patients at a hospital had to be evacuated to a safe area outdoors following the strong quake.
“The Army Chief has vowed to provide the necessary support to sustain their HADR efforts to save lives,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Adm. Artemio Abu, PCG commandant, said that coast guard personnel helped in evacuating residents in Luna, La Union in anticipation of possible aftershocks.
“The PCG La Union Station is on full alert status as monitoring continues in the municipality of Luna where several residents living near the coastline had to be evacuated,” the PCG said.
The PCG noted that several ports under the control of the Philipline Ports Authority (PPA), including those near the epicenter of the quake, have reported normal operations and no major structural damage was reported to cause alarm.
In the Port Management Office (PMO) of Northern Luzon, hairline cracks were seen at the Port Operations Building of the Port of Currimao, Ilocos Norte and at the Passenger Terminal Building in Claveria, Cagayan.
In Metro Manila's South Harbor, minor cracks were observed on the wall plastering of the PMO.
No damages were reported in the PMOs of Calapan Port in Mindoro; in Bataan and Aurora; Bicol; Palawan; and Masbate.