The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday joined forces with the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) to provide assistance to the victims of typhoon “Julian” in Batanes.
Two US Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules aircraft were deployed to transport personnel and equipment, facilitating the delivery of foreign disaster relief (FDR) supplies from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
These aircraft, dispatched from the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, are aiding in the transportation of essential supplies under the direction of the US Indo-Pacific Command.
During the operation, Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Galimba from the AFP Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and JUSMAG Chief Col. Edward Evans made a courtesy visit to Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco.
They highlighted the significance of close collaboration with local authorities to streamline logistics and ensure that vital resources reach the areas most severely affected.
The JUSMAG team, along with representatives from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), also worked with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to ensure swift distribution of FDR supplies to impacted communities in Batanes.
