FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City – A total of 125 people affected by flood and landslides caused by inclement weather were rescued by soldiers of the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion and the municipal risk reduction and management offices in different places in Aurora province on Friday.
According to Lt. Col. Julito Recto Jr., commanding officer of 91IB, a total of 1,122 families in Dingalan and Baler towns were affected by the floods.
“Coordinative efforts between the soldiers and the PDRRMO were readily established to upscale response and rescue operations in the said places,” Recto said.
“We sent our team to proceed to Baler MDRRMO chief Hector N. Dela Torre Jr. to help respond to our villagers affected by floods. Our troops also conducted mobile patrol operations in the area to monitor the situation,” he added.
Rescued individuals were from Sitio Kinalapan in Barangay Pingit, Sitio Gabgab in Barangay Buhangin, and Sitio Pulo in Barangay Zabali, all of Baler municipality; Sitio Mapula in Barangay Wenceslao, Maria Aurora municipality; and Sitio Diamot in Barangay Nonong Senior, San Luis municipality.
Recto assured the public that soldiers will continue to have close coordination with national government agencies, local government units, and private sector partners to extend assistance and help the people during calamities.
Major Gen. Andrew Costelo, commander of the 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, lauded the joint rescue operations of soldiers and the MDRRMOs in Aurora.
He vowed an intensified coordination and collaboration with national government agencies and local government units in times of disaster in order to assist and protect the lives and properties of the people by conducting disaster preparedness efforts before calamities strike and humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations during and after any eventuality.
“Handa ang inyong kasundaluhan na magbigay ng tulong para sa ating mga kababayan na apektado ng kalamidad. Paiigtingin pa namin ang aming pakikipag-ugnayan sa lokal na gobyerno para sa mas mabilis nating tugon sa sitwasyon,” said Costelo.
