Army deploys 2 squads to Aurora, Nueva Ecija for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief missions

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 20): Army deploys 2 squads to Aurora, Nueva Ecija for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief missions

The 56th Infantry “Tatag” Battalion, Philippine Army based in Barangay Calabuanan here on Thursday deployed one to two squads for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions to disaster-prone communities in this province and three towns in Nueva Ecija.

Lt. Col. Louie DS. Villanueva said the squads were deployed, in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMOs) and also with the barangay officials.

Part of the army’s HADR missions are in the towns of Baler, San Luis, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao, Dingalan, Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag in Aurora and the municipalities of Bongabon, Laur and Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija.

"We are in post operation right now, we assist in repacking and in the distribution of relief goods in the affected communities,” Villanueva said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Amado Elson A. Egargue said some 54,928 persons or 12,754 families affected by typhoon Lawin in this province wherein 18,640 persons or 5,323 families remain inside evacuation centers while 674 persons or 281 families are outside evacuation centers.

"Our office is still gathering other data, assessment is on going,” Egargue added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=933040