4th ID places all units in HADR footing due to 'Auring'

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 8): 4th ID places all units in HADR footing due to 'Auring'

With tropical depression "Auring" expected to affect a large part of eastern Mindanao, the Cagayan De Oro-based 4th Infantry Division has now prepared and alerted all its units for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.

This was disclosed by 4th Infantry Division public affairs office chief Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez in a statement late Saturday.

He said the placing of all their units in HADR footing is in support to the Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council and the different local government units in CARAGA Region.

In line with this, the 401st Infantry Brigade which covers the Agusan Del Norte and Agusan Del Sur has prepared its disaster response units and is closely monitoring the critical areas along Agusan River to include the nearby communities in all coastal areas and along Lake Mainit.

Meanwhile the 402nd Infantry Brigade, whose area of operation covers the whole of Surigao Del Sur, Surigao Del Norte and Province of Dinagat Islands, is closely monitoring with the local government units the coastal areas and the communities near the riverbanks.

4th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr., said all of their units are now dedicated for HADR missions with "Auring's" possible arrival.

"We have dedicated majority of our troops to help our local government units. I have reminded them to be more proactive in their actions in order to mitigate the effect/impact of the said tropical depression in the area," he added.

"Likewise, we also urged everyone to cooperate with our local authorities in every announcements to avoid unnecessary injury or loss of life," Madrigal concluded.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=953462