After amassing a wealth of relief goods from different government agencies, private groups and individuals in Palawan, the Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Wing-West (TOW-WEST)’s C130 flew them to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, where these would then be distributed to victims of the Taal eruption.
“[Ang mga] ito ay ipadadala natin sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta sa [nakaraang] pagsabog ng Taal Volcano,” according to 1LT Rufina Phainaa Sabello, spokesperson of TOW-West of Philippine Air Force, in an interview with local media.
The plane left Antonio Bautista Air Base at 12:52 PM, and landed at Villamor Air Base at around 2:30 PM.
The relief goods collected included 100 sacks of rice, canned goods, used clothes from the Provincial Government of Palawan, while 14 sacks of rice, 10 boxes of assorted items such as milk, noodles, and other consumables, and 10 bags of used clothes from Yamang Bukid Farm.
Relief goods enough to fill a truck from the Philippine Marines were collected by the Palawan Sound Organization that held two benefit concerts entitled “Tugtugan para sa Taal”.
This is aside from the P8,000 cash that they sent to Batangas that was used to buy food like spaghetti, burger, and juice for the child victims of the Taal eruption.
The other entities who also donated were the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Naval Forces West, Land Bank of the Philippines, and other well-known individuals.
The goods will be delivered to the evacuees from Villamor Air Base in Pasay. According to 1LT Sabello, the Civil Military Operations (CMO) is still accepting donations for the Taal victims.