Nolcom sends four choppers for search, rescue, retrieval operations in Cagayan Valley

November 14, 2020

 

The Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sent four  helicopters to conduct search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) operation in Cagayan Valley.

Maj. Marco Antonio Magisa, Northern Luzon Command spokesman said Nolcom Chief Major General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. ordered the deployment of air assets on Saturday.

“My order is for these air assets not to have idle time. They will be stationed in Cauayan, Isabela and, in coordination with the provincial government, will be deployed for search,  rescue, retrieval and relief operations particularly on those far-flung areas which land-based vehicles are unable to reach," Burgos said.

Magisa said Burgos has placed all military units, personnel and equipment under Nolcom on alert since October, when a series of weather disturbances threatened Northern and Central Luzon.

He said the military has prepositioned its forces and relief goods for the communities which would be affected by the storms.

"Aside from Region 2, hundreds of Nolcom troopers are currently deployed to (Typhoon) 'Ulysses’ hard hit areas such as Aurora in Central Luzon, Pagudpud in Ilocos Region and Ifugao in Cordillera Administrative Region. They are part of the more than 200 disaster response teams that were activated and deployed by Nolcom," said Magisa.

"According to the military, one C-130 and a C-295 aircraft have been dedicated to support the Cagayan Valley relief operations. As of the moment, plans are underway for it to be used to ferry 11 additional Disaster Response Teams with equipment from the National Capital Region," he added.

Magisa said "based on experts’ assessments, the massive flooding was due to numerous factors such as Magat Dam’s opening of gates and the large number of rainwater from the Sierra Madre  and Cordillera Mountain Ranges which reached the lowlands of Cagayan Valley. ''

''These were compounded by the high water level in the seas thereby causing 'back flow' from the supposed outlets of major water ways in the region,'' said Magisa. Robina Asido/DMS