Government troops asked to extend call of duty

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ordered the troops deployed for typhoon duties to extend their call of duty for two more days to help out in the disaster and rehabilitation efforts.

Teodoro said the troops are urgently needed to sustain the relief and rehabilitation of areas that are still under floodwaters brought by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

Teodoro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has deployed a brigade of troops in Metro Manila, particularly in Marikina, Pasig, Pateros and Taguig that are still submerged a week after the storm struck.

The Army, Air Force and Marines have sent troops under the overall operational control of the AFP’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) for search and rescue operations.

Troops were also sent to nearby provinces in central and northern Luzon and Southern Tagalog to help in relief and evacuation efforts.

The deployed troops are helping in the food and relief distribution to the thousands of people displaced by the floods.

“It’s too early to pull them (troops) out. We are not sure of the extent of the damage left by typhoon ‘Pepeng,’ so it’s better for them to continue their work,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro earlier allowed the military to conduct preemptive evacuation of residents living along the shorelines, mountain slopes and riverbanks in central and northern Luzon.

During the Cabinet meeting held at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) at Camp Aguinaldo, Teodoro told President Arroyo that the preemptive evacuation was a big success with thousands of residents, particularly those from Cagayan Valley, heeding the appeal to move out for their safety.

The US troops who arrived in the country to participate in the joint RP-US Balikatan exercises have also helped in the disaster and relief efforts of the government.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the American troops are helping the AFP in the disaster and relief efforts in Metro Manila.

“What we’ve done in Manila is we have re-directed an upcoming military exercise,” Kenney said.

The US military contingent were utilizing the heavy equipment that are supposed to be intended for the Balikatan exercise, to clear out the debris and garbage left by the floods.      – With Roel Pareño