Home

Foreword

Australian and
U.S. Forces
Strengthening
Regional Security

Philippine and U.S. Forces Provide Disaster Relief for Typhoon Victims

International HIV/Aids Conference

Building Global Networks to Combat Security Threats

The cycle of helicopters flights continued from morning until sunset. Within the course of one day, more than seven tons [6.4 metric tons] of supplies reached the towns of Real, General Nakar, and Infanta, according to 1st Lt. McClendon. Commenting on the disaster relief efforts, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Albert del Rosario said, “I wish to express my deepest gratitude for the U.S. government’s timely assistance to thousands of Filipinos who are suffering in the wake of the devastation wrought by typhoons Yoyong and Winnie. The U.S. Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, together with civilian authorities, are working together to alleviate the situation. Our latest collaboration further strengthens our alliance and fosters greater goodwill between Americans and Filipinos.”

During the 18 December transition ceremony honoring U.S. humanitarian assistance to the typhoon victims, then U.S. Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone said, “From my own visits to the affected areas, I saw how badly the tropical storms devastated Filipino families, their homes, and their environments. I saw U.S. and Philippine soldiers working, once again, shoulder to shoulder, carrying boxes of relief goods, setting up temporary shelters, and providing emergency medical care to the people. I also saw brave, young Filipino soldiers and their American counterparts protecting the operations against bandits who claim to act in the name of“the people” whom they terrorize and rob.”

Ambassador Ricciardone also noted, “Communications are re-established; major roads are now cleared; most of the areas have been stabilized; and emergency aid has been distributed in sufficient quantity to remove people from immediate danger. We are sending tents, generators, medical supplies, blankets, and water containers from Okinawa. Some have already begun to arrive on the C-130s that will be returning our men and women to Okinawa.”

Echoing Ambassador Albert del Rosario’s comments on the strength of the Philippine-U.S. alliance, Ambassador Ricciardone said, “The speed, with which we were able to assemble this disaster relief operation, and the smoothness of communications with our Philippine teammates, resulted directly from our combined exercises throughout the year, such as BALIKATAN and TALON VISION. Our joint disaster relief operations demonstrate the value of such repeated exercises of our teamwork throughout the year, thanks to the Visiting Forces Agreement signed by President Estrada in 1999 and thanks to our Mutual Logistics Support Agreement signed during President Macapagal-Arroyo’s first term in 2003. From our frequent exercises together, when a natural catastrophe or man-made threat to our security strikes, we know we can count on each other.”