The Philippine Navy (PN) on Monday said naval vessels attached to its Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) have provided relief assistance to communities severely affected by the massive fire that hit Lamion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

In a statement, the PN said the WMNC has conducted sealift operations, through Task Force 61, to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people hit hard by the blaze last Feb. 3.

For this mission, the WMNC deployed patrol vessel BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-176), which departed Bagong Calarian, Zamboanga City on Feb. 14 and arrived in Bongao Port the following day.

"The vessel transported 802 boxes of kitchen kits, 440 boxes of food packs, and 697 jerry cans donated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region IX (9) for immediate distribution to affected families," the PN said.

BRP General Mariano Alvarez was followed by landing craft BRP Ivatan (LC-298) which departed Bagong Calarian last Feb. 17 and carried approximately 47,000 kilograms of additional relief supplies.

The cargo included kitchen kits, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, family kits, family food packs, and mission-essential equipment, including a six-wheel preloaded with supplies, all sourced from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) to further help fire victims in Tawi-Tawi.

"These sealift operations were executed under the supervision of WMNC to ensure the safe, timely, and efficient transport of essential aid to geographically isolated and disaster-affected communities," the PN said. (PNA)