BALER, Aurora — The Philippine Army’s 91st Sinagtala Battalion has expressed its readiness to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster response to areas in Aurora province that might be severely affected by Typhoon Ompong.
Based on the bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at 11 a.m. Friday, northern Aurora was already placed under typhoon signal No. 3.
Lt. Col. Jose Mari F. Torrenueva II, commander of the Sinagtala Battalion, said their troops are always ready to serve the people as responders in search and rescue operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief and rehabilitation.
“Our soldiers are prepared for the coming typhoon. The ‘Sinagtala’ Battalion Army troopers are trained in disaster response operations, such as water, urban and jungle search and rescue, as well as basic life saving,” he said.
Torrenueva said Sinagtala troopers have been strategically deployed to disaster- and landslide-prone areas in Aurora to immediately respond to any eventuality.
Likewise, he said that communication link and close coordination among disaster response units and the various local disaster risk reduction management offices have been established and operationalized.
“We are on standby to support the local government and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for humanitarian and disaster response missions as the needs arise,” Torrenueva said in a cellphone interview.
He also advised the public to avoid outdoor activities, such as surfing, fishing and to take precautionary measures in the areas that are susceptible to storm surge, flood, and landslide.
“So far, we are targeting the far-flung areas, coastal areas as we are prepared and ready for the coming of the typhoon,” he added. (Jason De Asis/PNA)
