The Philippine Navy’s landing platform dock BRP Tarlac has completed its fifth relief operation in the Visayas, helping thousands of victims of Typhoon Odette that battered parts of the Visayas and Mindanao in December last year.

In a statement on Thursday, the Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) said BRP Tarlac (LD601), skippered by Commander Emerson Oxales, successfully transported and delivered approximately 370 tons of relief cargoes for the relief sortie operation on Chinese New Year.

“LD601 arrived and docked at Pier 4, Cebu City last January 30, 2022 wherein she carried consolidated relief goods and essential items from different government agencies, Philippine Navy units, and stakeholders intended for typhoon-affected communities in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental,” Navforcen’s public affairs officer, Lt. Junior Grade Frances Maye Macapinig said.

Macapinig said organic personnel of the Navforcen, along with its operational and tactical control units, participated in the unloading and hauling of relief goods from the landing craft.

Navforcen has operational and tactical control units in the three regions in the Visayas — Naval Installation Facility –Central (NIF-C), Marine Amphibious Ready Unit, 9th Marine Battalion (MARU, 9th MBn), Civil Military Operations Unit – Central (CMOU-C), Naval Special Operations Unit – 5 (NAVSOU-5), Naval Information and Communication Technology Station – Cebu (NICTS-C), Naval Reserve Center Eastern Visayas (NRCEV), and Naval Supply Depot Cebu (NSDC).

The assorted relief goods and cargoes will be sorted out before distribution to the beneficiaries. (PNA)