The Philippine Air Force (PAF) facilitated another relief operation in Batanes to help residents affected by Super Typhoon “Julian” quickly recover.
The PAF’s The Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 2 under the Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon (TOWNOL) used a Sokol helicopter to transport 60 kilos of vital medicines and 10 personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD to support recovery efforts in the island on Friday, Oct. 11.
“These operations underscore the PAF's commitment to ensuring timely and effective humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters, highlighting the essential role of air mobility in disaster response initiatives,” Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF spokesperson, said on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Meanwhile, PAF reservists were also activated to assist in the ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations across Luzon in the wake of the typhoon.
A total of 79 reservists from the 2nd Air Force Wing Reserve, under the 2nd Air Reserve Center participated in various HADR missions.
Their efforts included hauling essential relief goods, conducting search and rescue operations, and delivering the needed aid to residents in Basco, Sabtang, and Itbayat in Batanes.
Castillo praised the PAF reservists for their tireless work to provide immediate relief and support to affected communities in Batanes.
“The PAF Reserve Force continues to exemplify its unwavering commitment to serving the Filipino people, even in the face of adversity,” the PAF spokesperson said.
“Their selfless contributions have been significant in helping affected communities to recover and rebuild, once again proving their paramount importance as AFP’s force multipliers, and are valuable asset to the nation's disaster response capabilities,” she added.
Super Typhoon Julian wreaked havoc in the country two weeks ago, affecting more than 300,000 people in Northern Luzon.
Five persons died due to the tpyhoon while another one remains missing. The combined damage to agriculture and infrastructure reached P1.5 billion.