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At least 17 air assets of the Philippines are on standby in Manila and Cebu to augment response efforts in Kristine-hit areas
MANILA, Philippines – The national government has sent reinforcement units from the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) based in Lucena City in Quezon province as well as from Eastern Visayas to provide Bicol Region with additional personnel and equipment in the wake of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
In a Palace briefing on Thursday, October 24, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Director Edgar Posadas admitted rescue efforts were difficult in the Bicol Region, the worst affected by torrential rains brought by Kristine even before it made landfall.
Although local resources were enough, Posadas said flooding has made it difficult to attend to rescue requests, particularly in Naga City, as well as other places in Camarines Sur.
Reinforcements from SOLCOM and Eastern Visayas were already en route to Bicol as of the October 24 morning briefing, added the OCD official.
At least 17 air assets of the military, said Posadas, were already prepositioned at the Villamor Air Base in Manila and in Cebu to augment response efforts, although their deployment depends on the weather.
Posadas noted that the Philippines has been in contact with foreign friends — including treaty-ally United States — should the government need air asset augmentation.
Kristine made landfall in the Philippines early morning of October 24, and continues to move across the Cordillera Administrative Region. It is expected to exit Luzon through the Ilocos Region by Thursday as well.
In Bicol alone, over 1.4 million Filipinos were reported to have been affected by Kristine as of October 23. – Rappler.com
