Soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) arrived on Thursday in the province to provide aid to typhoon-hit residents.

The AFP teams with five trucks loaded with food and non-food items went to Dingalan, one of the heavily devastated towns by Typhoon Ulysses.

Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, commanding officer of the Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, said the move is part of the AFP’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts to affected communities within the area of responsibilities of Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) and the 7th Infantry “Kaugnay” Division (7ID).

Of the five trucks, two came from the 7ID, and one each from Nolcom, 91st IB and 703rd Brigade.

“The activity is in line with the 7ID’s initiative to uplift the spirit of Dingaleños that it has conceptualized the Tulong Kaugnay Program,” Rubio said in an interview.

“Through the efforts and initiative of Nolcom, Kaugnay troopers, Kiwanis Club of Golden Tagum, Gia Veloso of The Geo Projects Inc., and Hydeliza Tuazon of Tacloban City, we were able to donate five trucks containing assorted items and relief goods to LGU Dingalan intended for the affected residents. This is one way of helping our less fortunate constituents who were indeed severely affected by the recent typhoon in our area of operations,” he said.

The assorted relief goods were turned over to Dingalan Mayor Shierwin Taay.

Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, Jr., Nolcom chief, said Dingalan could rest assure of support from the AFP “that is within their capacity and in whatever legal means possible for the immediate recovery from the destruction brought by Typhoon Ulysses.”

The aid distribution was also attended by Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander 7th ID, Brig. Gen. Andrew Costelo, commander 703rd (Agila) Brigade and witnessed by other local officials. (PNA)