FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army mobilized its ground units to assist in the disaster and relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Typhoon Rolly in the Bicol Region.
The 9th Infantry “
Team SPEAR
” Division (9ID) under Maj. Gen. Henry A Robinson Jr., deployed soldiers in Albay and Catanduanes province to assist various Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) in rescuing residents who are heavily affected due to heavy flooding and for the clearing operations in typhoon-stricken areas.The 9ID also provided transportation assets including military trucks, rubber boats, and other equipment for the hauling and delivery of relief goods from various stakeholders to affected residents. Along with these, the Army also coordinated with the Philippine Air Force for the utilization of air assets for the rapid conduct of damage assessment and recoveries.
In accordance to the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR), the AFP leads the Search, Rescue and Retrieval Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Typhoon Rolly, with international name “Goni”, is considered as the world’s most powerful storm in the last four years. An estimate of P4.6 billion damage on infrastructure like roads, bridges and buildings, and more than 156,000 houses were also damaged. A total of 61,912 families are still staying in evacuation areas, while 160 individuals were injured while 17 individuals lost their lives.
“This is a continuous effort of the Philippine Army in coordination with concerned agencies. We continue to exhaust all means to help the people of Bicol recover from the destruction of Typhoon Rolly as part of our mandate to support the government’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief efforts,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the Commanding General of the Philippine Army.#