In response to the Philippine government’s call for assistance, the United States military has deployed advanced aircraft and logistics support to help deliver life-saving aid to communities across Northern Luzon recently battered by back-to-back storms and intense southwest monsoon rains, the United States Embassy in Manila said in a news release.
The deployment—coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)—includes US Marine Corps and Air Force Ospreys and MC-130J aircraft under the US Indo-Pacific Command. These assets have been mobilized to support airlift operations from Clark Air Base to remote areas, including Basco in Batanes.
On July 30 and 31, the tiltrotor Ospreys successfully transported 600 family food packs (FFPs) and emergency relief items from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to Basco, under the guidance of the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and AFP.
Operations are ongoing to deliver an additional 5,700 DSWD-provided food packs to other storm-hit areas in the coming days.
“The United States stands shoulder to shoulder with our Filipino allies, especially in responding to disasters,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson. “We are grateful to the combined relief and rescue teams who have been working tirelessly on the ground to deliver emergency assistance to affected residents.”
The US Embassy in Manila has been working closely with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), OCD, DSWD, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to ramp up emergency relief efforts in Central and Northern Luzon.
As of July 29, WFP—with ₱13.8 million ($250,000) in funding from the US Department of State—had deployed trucks to deliver more than 47,700 DSWD family food packs to Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan. The supplies have helped more than 200,000 residents impacted by widespread flooding and landslides.
US military aircraft and personnel remain on standby to provide further assistance as the Philippines continues recovery operations in affected provinces.
