MANILA -- The transport of relief goods to Itbayat, Batanes, which was heavily-battered by twin quakes last July 27, is still ongoing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.
The transport of various food and non-food items took place from Monday to Wednesday, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said in a statement.
This is to ensure the continuous supply of food and relief items for the victims of the quake, he added.
Jalad said the Philippine Navy ship, BRP Pangasinan (PS-31), along with the Air Force's C-295 transport aircraft and commercial bancas were utilized to deploy these relief items.
On Monday, a total of 795 sacks of family food packs, 312 boxes of relief supplies, 32 sacks of rice (25 kgs each), 10 sacks of 50-kg rice, six boxes of sardines, eight boxes of instant noodles, six boxes of instant coffee, 30,000 liters of mineral water, and 92 boxes of assorted grocery items were transported to Itbayat by BRP Pangasinan.
On Tuesday, 14 boxes of assorted relief goods and 88 sacks of rice were sent through PAF’s C-295 plane. Then, from August 20-21, 71 drums (at 200 liters per drum) of diesel fuel were brought to Itbayat utilizing commercial motor bancas.
Jalad said these supplies were sent to Itbayat in response to the victims’ additional need for relief items. Prior to these latest shipments, Itbayat had already received from the NDRRMC about 40 metric tons of food and water and 10 metric tons of non-food items transported in various batches via military air and sea assets.
"The NDRRMC assures the public that it has standby food and relief items ready for transport to Itbayat should additional supplies be needed. There remains a challenge, however, in the transport of relief items due to the inclement weather, as the NDRRMC also has to consider the safety of its responders," the NDRRMC chief added. (PNA)
