Soldiers continue rescue, relief OPNs in flood-hit areas in Panay, Negros areas

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army through the 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion and 3ID, PA through 82nd Infantry (Bantay Laya) Battalion continue their respective rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas in Panay and Negros areas.

The 3rd Infantry conducted Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations as Tropical depression "Agaton" inundated low-lying areas of Northern Negros on April 12 while the 3ID, PA through 82nd Infantry (Bantay Laya) Battalion launched Recovery and Relief operation in the municipalities of Sara and Ajuy both in the 5th District of Iloilo on the same day.

The 3ID Line Units with the Local Government Unit of Sagay City, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and other rescue groups successfully evacuated hundreds of families trapped in their homes and were brought to safer grounds.

The 82IB in collaboration with the MDRRMCs, MSWD Offices, and LGUs immediately deployed HADR teams in the above-mentioned municipalities to assist the needs of the locals in flooded barangays due to the onslaught of the country’s first Tropical Storm named ‘Bagyong Agaton' (Megi) that further interacted with another storm, Bagyong 'Basyang' (Malakas) as announced by PAGASA.