Unified military commands on alert for possible typhoon ‘Ruby’ impact

Armed Forces of the Philippines. Photo courtesy of AFP Facebook page.

MANILA — With typhoon “Ruby” projected to make landfall Saturday evening over the Eastern Samar-Northern Samar area, all unified military commands have been ordered to alert their disaster response task units (DRTUs) from their respective divisions, brigades, battalions, and down to company levels for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.

Major Emmanuel Garcia, 7th Civil Relations Group commander, said the orders are for the Southern Luzon Command, Eastern Mindanao Command, and Central Command which are in the areas to be affected by “Ruby.”

He added that these units are also ordered to coordinate with various local government units (LGUs) and representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other government line agencies in their areas of responsibilities for HADR, leveling and rationalization and pre-positioning of equipment and supplies before the arrival of the typhoon.