30 PAF aircraft available for ‘Ruby’ relief missions

The Naval Forces West, crew of the BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS36), and the 570th CTW load relief goods from the DSWD, intended for the municipalities of Cuyo, Agutaya, and Magsaysay in Palawan. (Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines)

MANILA — Thirty Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft will be available for possible disaster relief and rescue missions once the inclement weather caused by typhoon “Ruby” subsides, the military said Sunday.

Major Emmanuel Garcia, 7th Civil Relations Group commander, said that these planes and helicopters will be augmented by 30 naval craft, 130 land transport vehicles and 158 additional ground mobility assets.

For the meantime, aircraft based in “Ruby”-threatened provinces are ordered to fly from the path of the typhoon to avoid damage, he added.

“Ruby” made landfall in Dolores town, Eastern Samar at 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

It is expected to make landfall in Masbate Sunday.

As this develops, the US Embassy in Manila has offered nine Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft and three Lockheed P-3C “Orion” maritime surveillance planes for air assessment and monitoring.

Medical, relief workers and other support if needed, will also be provided.

“Other foreign armed forces also offering help and coordinating with the MNCC (multi-national coordination center),” Garcia said.