Gov't marshals air, naval forces to move relief goods to Yolanda-hit areas

From GMA News (Nov 9): Gov't marshals air, naval forces to move relief goods to Yolanda-hit areas

Government teams are on their way to Tacloban City in Eastern Visayas, one of the areas hit hard by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Saturday.

AFP public affairs deputy head Maj. Angelo Guzman said a C-130 plane of the Philippine Air Force took off for Tacloban Saturday morning.

He also said a commo van was loaded to the C-130 "to help government agencies operate amid the loss of elecricity."

A separate report by dzBB's Sam Nielsen said the flight, the first by the PAF to the typhoon victims, was also loaded with relief goods.

Yolanda ripped through several parts of the country Friday, making landfall several times. It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility Saturday.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras said President Benigno Aquino III ordered that the government prioritize making sure relief goods reach those affected.

"(Ang) priority instructions ng pangulo since yesterday, we need to make sure that one, relief goods are moving (President Aquino's priority instructions since Friday were to make sure relief goods are moving)," he said at a news briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, parts of which were aired on dzBB radio.

"We are moving assets from Mindanao to Visayas. We need as much air and naval support to move relief goods and medical supplies," he added.

He said the government has enough resources but needs help from volunteers to repack them.

Concern for Leyte, Tacloban

Meanwhile, Almendras said they are verifying reports that a storm surge had killed many in Tacloban City.

"We are very concerned about the situation there," he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/334709/news/nation/gov-t-marshals-air-naval-forces-to-move-relief-goods-to-yolanda-hit-areas