US sends equipment, personnel to aid in Julian relief efforts

The United States has deployed planes and personnel to assist in relief operations in communities affected by Typhoon Julian in Batanes.

According to the Philippine Air Force, two KC-130J Hercules aircraft from the United States III Marine Expeditionary Force brought personnel and equipment to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday afternoon.

“These aircraft, which departed from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, will assist in the ongoing relief efforts in the province of Batanes, which was severely affected by Typhoon Julian,” the statement read.

Government data showed Julian left 5 people dead and P551.81 million in agricultural damage.

Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco said on October 1 that around 60% of the 2,463 affected homes were totally damaged, while 40% were partially damaged.

Cayco attributed the high number of damaged homes to the prohibition of aggregates for home use after Batanes was declared a protected area. New houses in the province are made of light materials.

“Noong kami po ay naging protected area sa buong Batanes, hindi na kami nakakakuha ng aggregate for home use. So, ang ginagamit na nila mga kahoy o tubo na pangposte tapos yero-yero na lang,” she said.

(When Batanes became a protected area, we were no longer able to get aggregate for home use. So, they use wood or pipes for posts and metal sheets.)

“‘Yan ang magiging panawagan ko na baka pupuwedeng i-moratorium muna ‘yung batas na ‘yun para ang mga tao dito sa Batanes ay makagawa po ng matibay na tirahan dahil kami naman po talaga ay typhoon path,” she added.

(I call for a moratorium on that law in the meantime so that the people here in Batanes can build a stable house because we are on a typhoon path.) —VBL, GMA Integrated News