AFP holds fellowship with US Navy personnel
JAMINDAN, Capiz -- Just in time when help was needed, the US government was there to lend out a helping hand.
To honor the assistance extended by the US government, especially the USS Ronald Reagan, in the relief operations at storm-ravaged Western Visayas, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) organized a fellowship party at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
"We know this would not be enough to the help they gave but just the same, we want them to know how much we appreciated their support," said BGen Jorge Segovia.
Days after Typhoon Frank hit Western Visayas, USS Reagan steamed over to help in the relief operations.
With USS Reagan carrying a number of American air assets, relief goods were quickly distributed to devastated areas in the region.
Aside from providing air transportation, the US government, through the USAID, also provided relief goods such as tents, water cans, hygiene kits, and basic relief supplies to thousand of affected families.
"It surely helped us because we could only do so much with the planes of Phil. Air Force. With them, our work load became a little lighter," said BGen Nestor Ochoa.
"But more than that, it's nice to know that there are people we could rely in times of crisis," Ochoa added.
Latest report right now pegged the numbers of affected barangays to 2,634, with Iloilo getting the most number of affected barangays with 1,123.
Capiz seconded the number of affected areas to 473; Aklan with 327; Antique with 304; Negros Occidental with 183; Iloilo City with 151; Guimaras with 40; and Bacolod City with 33.
The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) registered a total of 342,379 affected families comprising of 1,734,782 persons.
Even US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney also visited Iloilo over the weekend.
As she assured the assistance extended by the American government, the lady diplomat clarified that what they're doing is "not an act of charity."
Instead, she claimed that it's about "helping friends who just need a push in a tough time… That's certainly our focus, saving lives and getting people back on their feet, getting this part of the country back, being prosperous again." She also regarded Ilonggos to be wonderful people.