Yolanda evacuees to Camp Aguinaldo

Families airlifted from the calamity areas hit by Yolanda have been arriving in batches at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–As more typhoon victims seeking for temporary shelter flock to Villamor Airbase, the military airport has become congested, prompting the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to relocate them in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

AFP spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said Thursday in press briefing that starting 12 noon Thursday, evacuees from the Supertyphoon Yolanda-struck Leyte and Samar will be transported to Camp Aguinaldo, which will now serve as their receiving and processing area.

He said the congestion was starting to interrupt the operations in the military airport based in Pasay City.

According to Joint Civilian Military Operations Task Group commander Col. Johnny Centillo, since the camp cannot provide an area where typhoon survivors can stay overnight, they will immediately bring them to the respective cities where their relatives live.

For those who do not have relatives in Metro Manila, Centillo said the Department of Social Welfare and Development will provide them a place to stay in a tent city.

In the same briefing, the Office of the Civil Defense Executive Officer Honorato Delos Reyes pointed out that based on the NDRRMC’s memorandum, the Metro Manila Development Authority will deploy buses to Villamor Airbase.

Delos Reyes assured that security has been tightened inside the Camp Aguinaldo in anticipation of the evacuees’ arrival.

Officials also advised the volunteers to proceed to the AFP headquarters.

Related stories

‘Oplan Hatid’ organizers: We’re ready when help is needed

4,000 ‘Yolanda’ survivors arrive in Metro

Legislators launch ‘Project Yakap’

Helping hands overwhelm typhoon victims at air base