Philippine and United States military aircraft began transporting relief supplies to communities in Basco, Batanes following the impact of recent severe weather disturbances.
In a statement issued Wednesday night, Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Consuelo Castillo said the operations are part of ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts in Northern Luzon.
Castillo added that the United States Air Force (USAF) deployed a CV-22 “Osprey” tilt-rotor aircraft to assist the PAF in this HADR mission that took place on July 30, 2025.
“A total of 300 boxes of family food packs were airlifted aboard the USAF CV-22 ‘Osprey’ from Clark Air Base, Pampanga to Basco, Batanes,” she said.
“PAF personnel from the Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon (TOWNOL), provided essential ground support during the joint Philippine-US mission, assisting in the unloading, handling, and coordination of aid distribution in Basco, Batanes,” Castillo added.
Last July 29, the PAF deployed its C-130 cargo aircraft and S-70i “Black Hawk” helicopters to transport batches of relief goods to Batanes and Abra, respectively.
The C-130 aircraft also facilitated the transport of “locally stranded individuals” from Basco to Manila on its return flight.
The mission was carried out in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), reflecting an inter-agency collaboration for disaster relief operations.
“These collaborative HADR missions not only expedited the delivery of vital supplies to affected areas but also reaffirmed the strong alliance between the Philippines and the United States, centered on mutual support, readiness, and shared humanitarian values in responding to crises,” Castillo said.
