AIR traffic in Cebu was at its heaviest yesterday as aircraft of various shapes and sizes continue to arrive to ferry tons of relief goods and aid workers on a mission to help victims of supertyphoon Yolanda.
At least 15 aircraft from 10 different countries taxied into the tarmac of Gen. Benito Ebuen Air Base a full week after the monstrous typhoon devastated the country.
Among those that touched down yesterday morning was an Indian Air Force C-130 cargo plane carrying 20 tons of food, tents, blankets, medicines and other goods.
Indian Defense Attaché Vineet McCarty said they will leave it to the Philippine government to distribute the relief goods they brought for the affected residents due to the super typhoon.
“As of now we are bringing in relief goods and as to when the Philippine will request for more assistance we are ready,” he said.
Sandeep Singh Jaggi, First Secretary of the Indian Embassy, said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had sent a letter to President Aquino expressing sympathy and condolences from the people of India.
“We did this on our own because of the good relationship between us and the Philippines. Nobody requested for this,” Jaggi said.
Three C-130s from South Korea also arrived yesterday morning, carrying 41 doctors, nurses and rescue volunteers.
Korean Consul Chin Hyun Yong who was at the VIP Lounge of Mactan Air Base was anxious about the delay of the flights. The Koreans arrived at past 9 a.m. and were set to leave for Tacloban at 11:30 a.m. But they were still in Mactan at noon as they had to undergo immigration formalities.
“If we’re delayed, we may not be able to land in Tacloban,” Chin told reporters.
Volunteers from Germany also arrived yesterday bringing along water purifiers and a mobile water-testing laboratory, which they will take to the affected areas in Bogo and San Remigio in northern Cebu.
The German Red Cross also brought in 50 tons of relief goods. /Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos