Australian military personnel who are conducting a bilateral exercise with the Philippine Army (PA) in Bicol Region temporarily put on hold their training to help in the humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations for victims of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine”.

Col. Louie Dema-ala, PA spokesperson, said visiting troops from the Australian Army worked hand-in-hand with the Filipino soldiers to distribute food packs to evacuees in Naga City on Thursday, Oct. 24.

The 50-man Australian contingent is training with their Filipino counterparts for the Exercise Kasangga, the inaugural combined training exercise between the PA and the Australian Army in Bicol Region.

“The Philippine Army leadership assures the Filipino people of the HADR teams’ operational readiness and commitment to save lives amid the massive flooding brought about by ‘Kristine,’” he said.

The two forces have been working hand-in-hand to sharpen their skills on urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting, tactical casualty care, explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, mortar gunnery with forward observers, and Civil-Military Operations (CMO) exchanges since Oct. 14 at Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur. 

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it has ramped up its nationwide HADR efforts in areas struck by Kristine, particularly in Luzon.

AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said personnel of the PA, Philippine Air Force (PAF), and Philippine Navy (PN) are on high alert, providing rescue and relief operations to storm victims.

In Albay, PAF’s Tactical Operations Group 5 and Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) teams rescued families in flooded areas in Brgy. Sta Cruz, Libon and assisted stranded persons at a mall in Legazpi, ensuring their safe evacuation to the Daraga Covered Court.

The PAF also transported relief supplies to residents in Centro Nabua, Brgy. San Miguel, Brgy. Santiago Old, Brgy. Santiago Young, Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Brgy. La Purisima, and Brgy. La Opinion in Camarines Sur using a KM-250 truck and a fiber boat.

In Samar, the Disaster Response Team of the 63rd Infantry Battalion of Joint Task Force Storm was deployed to manage rising floodwaters and provide immediate assistance to affected residents in Basey, where continuous rainfall was recorded.

The Army’s light Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR) of the 525th Combat Engineer “Forerunner” Battalion also rescued 150 stranded families along the stretch of the Maharlika Highway from San Fernando town to Barangay Mabolo, Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Elements of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NFSL) have also rescued 1,300 families in Masbate, Catanduanes, Albay and Camarines Sur.