Help continues to pour in for victims of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) “Paeng” as the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine Navy (PN) sustained their relief operations to help affected residents in Southern Luzon and Western Visayas, the military said Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Based on the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 4.66 million individuals were affected by Paeng since it hit the country nearly two weeks ago.
There were 158 people who died, 142 were injured, and 34 others were still missing in the affected regions. The damage to infrastructure has already reached P4.5 billion while agricultural loss amounted to P2.99 billion.
Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA Commanding General, said that the Army provided manpower and logistical assistance for a joint humanitarian relief operation with the People’s Republic of China and a local media foundation to help the victims of Paeng in Laguna and Batangas.
He said the Army has deployed military trucks to transport 600 sacks of rice, 600 gallons of water, and various relief goods to Nicolas Galvez Memorial National High School in Brgy. San Antonio, Bay, Laguna and Calitcalit Elementary School in Brgy. Calitcatlit, San Juan, Batangas.
“Army troops, in collaboration with the local government units and other stakeholders, actively participated in the distribution of relief goods to communities affected by the typhoon,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the PN’s Naval Task Force 50 under the Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) has utilized patrol craft BRP Filipino Flojo (PC 386) and landing craft BRP Tausug (LC 295) to deliver assorted relief goods in Aklan, Antique, and Iloilo.
Commodore Florante Gagua, commander of NAVFORCEN, said BRP Filipino Flojo delivered 208 boxes of corned beef, 50 boxes of sardines, 52 boxes of chocolate milk drink and coffee, and two boxes of other relief items while BRP Tausug carried 36 tons of assorted goods for the victims of Paeng.
Southern Luzon and Western Visayas are two of the hardest hit regions during the onslaught of Paeng.