Military engineers deployed to help victims in Cagayan Valley

November 19, 2020

Major General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) chief, ordered  military engineers deployed to help victims of Typhoon ''Ulysses'' in Cagayan Valley.

Burgos said the move is in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to use all available assets to speed up recovery.

Burgos said this “a calculated and proactive move in preparation for the next logical step in post-disaster operations” which “they have learned in the AFP’s long history of being first responders in times of calamities.”

He also reiterated his soldiers’ “commitment to provide assistance and help our constituents go through this challenge by sending our  forces and equipment in the area to hasten relief efforts as well as the eventual rehabilitation.”

Major Marco Antonio Magisa, Nolcom spokesman, said there are three engineer construction battalions strategically deployed across Northern and Central Luzon.

Magisa said "similar to the regular and reserve forces, these additional manpower and equipment will be under Joint Task Force Tala, Nolcom’s operating arm in Region 2, which is working in close coordination with the Emergency Operations Center of Cagayan Valley’s Office of Civil Defense as well as the governors of Cagayan and Isabela through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office." Robina Asido/DMS