Help on its way to worst-hit areas affected by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’

The first C-130 plane bound for Tacloban City left Villamor Air Base on Saturday morning to ferry rescue personnel and relief goods. Photo by Maj Angelo Guzman

MANILA – In the aftermath of Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan), government rescue teams have started with their relief efforts to hardest-hit areas.

Two C-130 cargo planes carrying rescue personnel, communication equipment, water purifiers and other relief goods left Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for Tacloban City on Saturday morning.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Eduardo del Rosario, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Dinky Soliman and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz were also among those who boarded the first flight at 7a.m.

The plane also carried a power generator and other equipment to help government agencies to operate amid the shut down of communication and power lines and 12,000 pounds of relief goods.

AFP chief General Emmanuel Bautista also ordered the Central Command and Southern Luzon Command to prioritize disaster response efforts and to make all of its air assets available for immediate assessment of damage, rescue and transport operations, Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.