By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Two KC-130J ” Super Hercules” cargo aircraft of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) have completed their mission of delivering more than 15,000 family food packs to landslide-affected areas in Davao de Oro province, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday.
“As of Feb. 15, a total of 15,400 family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were transported using two USMC KC-130J Hercules aircraft, which ensured the prompt delivery of aid to communities in need,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.
The two USMC KC-130Js began their mission on Feb. 12.
Trinidad said the presence of allied forces offered hope and support to people affected by the calamity and manifested the enduring bond between the US and the Philippines in times of need.
Meanwhile, AFP Chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., thanked the US for its assistance in relief operations in calamity-hit areas in Mindanao.
Brawner noted that these instances highlight the importance of prepositioning humanitarian assistance and disaster relief equipment, supplies, and relief goods in Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in similar situations in the future.
“Through EDCA, the improvements in our bases and the prepositioned US assets will allow us to respond quickly and more efficiently in the future. Together with our ally and fellow Filipinos, we will strive to ensure that no one is left behind in our journey toward recovery and resilience,” he added. (PNA)
