Headquarters Naval Forces Central (HNFC), Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, February 22, 2023 – The Philippine Navy through Naval Forces Central in coordination with the Visayas Command; Department of Social Welfare and Development – Visayas Disaster Resource Center (DSWD-VDRC); Office of the Civil Defense 7 (OCD7) and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 7 (RDRRMC7) continued and intensified the Command’s effort in the ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations to the flash-flood affected areas in Eastern Visayas.
Naval Task Group 50 deployed BRP BATAK (LC299) skippered by LCDR ALVIN G ATON PN for the 2nd wave of sealift of relief items to the flash-flood affected municipalities of Eastern Visayas. On February 21-22, 2023, BRP BATAK (LC299) successfully transported/sealifted a total of seven thousand five hundred (7,500) boxes weighing 9 kilograms each or sixty eight (68) tons of Family Food Packs (FFP) in Ormoc City, Leyte. Said FFP are intended to the affected families in the provinces of Eastern Samar and Samar namely: Arteche, Borongan City, Dolores, General Mac Arthur, Maydolong and Calbayog City. Said FFP were handed over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region-8 (DSWD-8) and to be distributed to the affected families in the aforesaid localities due the devastation brought by the severe weather disturbance in the said areas.
The said sealift mission was successfully completed through the benevolent support of Office of the Civil Defense Region 8 (OCD8); 802nd Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO); and Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas (CGDEV), who all provided mobility and manpower assistance for the prompt unloading and transport of the said items.
The Visayas Command through Naval Forces Central will continue to support the national and local government’s efforts as well as partner-stakeholders in bringing immediate and much needed assistance to the calamity-stricken areas in the Visayas. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
