MILITARY transport helicopters have flown dozens of emergency sorties to drop off tons of food and clean water to coastal and mountainous villages in Davao Occidental and Sarangani Province that have been completely cut off by landslides following the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake.
Joint Task Force (JTF) Agila and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) mobilized Black Hawk helicopters to bypass ruined road networks and bridge collapses that currently paralyze conventional ground transportation.
During a five-day air bridge operation running from June 11 to 15, aircrews braved intermittent bad weather and treacherous terrain to deliver 4,925 food packs, 800 five-kilogram rice bags, 3,400 bottles of water, 100 containers of 20-liter potable water, and 440 additional boxes and cases of assorted relief goods.
The air assets loaded life-saving supplies from the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Lais, Malita, Davao Occidental, and from Rajah Buayan Air Base before flying them directly to makeshift landing zones in the hardest-hit areas.
The aerial supply drops successfully reached isolated residents in Barangays Molmol, Quiapo, San Isidro, and Sitio Makina of Barangay Kalbay in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, as well as Barangay E. Alegado in Glan, Sarangani Province.
On the ground, specialized disaster response teams from the 1002nd Infantry Brigade—including their specialized Female DRT—spearheaded the grueling physical logistics of loading, unloading, and distributing the cargo alongside local government personnel and volunteers.
Major General Alvin Luzon, commander of JTF Agila, praised the joint crews and ground teams for maintaining the critical air bridge despite acute logistical bottlenecks and localized hazards.
“Disasters test not only our capabilities but also our compassion as a people,” Luzon stated. “While access to some communities remains challenging, our troops, together with our partners from government agencies, LGUs, and humanitarian organizations, remain committed to ensuring that assistance reaches every affected family.”
