(Photo courtesy of Philippine Fleet) MANILA - The Philippine Navy (PN), through the Philippine Fleet, is now assembling a "19-ship humanitarian aid-focused flotilla" that will be deployed in areas severely devastated by Typhoon Odette. "This relief flotilla consists of seven sealift vessels for the transport of relief goods and locally stranded individuals, two patrol ships for command and control, eight other watercraft as general support vessels. Meanwhile, the Presidential Yacht, BRP Ang Pangulo (AC-S25) has been repurposed as a hospital ship," the Philippine Fleet said in a Facebook post Sunday night. It added that BRP Tarlac (LD-601), BRP Bacolod City (LS-550), BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), BRP Iwak (LC-289), BRP Agta (LC-290) and BRP Ivatan LC-298) are to be deployed to augment ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts (HADR) in Cebu, Palawan, and Northern Mindanao specially Surigao, Dinagat and Siargao Islands. &
PRESENT. President Rodrigo Duterte (center) is joined by Senator Bong Go and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista (1st and 2nd from left) during his visit to Surigao del Norte and Southern Leyte on Saturday (Dec. 18, 2021). The two provinces were among those hardest hit by Typhoon Odette. (Photo courtesy of SBG) MANILA - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to provide assistance to local government units (LGUs) affected by Typhoon Odette. In its Monday report, some PHP8.4 million worth of humanitarian assistance have been sent to Regions 6, 8, 10, 11, Mimaropa, and Caraga. During President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to the Caraga Region on Saturday, along with DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista and Senator Bong Go, the agency distributed additional 35,000 family food packs (FPPs). DSWD-Caraga initially delivered 5,000 FFPs each to Dinagat Islands and Siargao via the Philippine Navy and Montenegro Shipping Lines. Additionally