Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, CG Admiral Leopoldo V Laroya has assured typhoon-stricken provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao that relief transport missions will continue amid another COVID-19 surge, following the entrance of the omicron variant in the country.

CG Admiral Laroya said 34 frontline personnel contracted COVID-19 during the non-stop operations of the PCG during the holiday season. Thirty-two (32) of these personnel were under the Task Force Kalinga and were involved in the transport of relief goods.

The Task Force Kalinga headed by CG Rear Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan immediately isolated the concerned personnel and provided them with necessary medical assistance for their speedy recovery. They were replaced by another batch of frontline personnel to ensure that ongoing operations will not be halted.

“We are grateful to the numerous government agencies and private organizations that chose to course through their cash and in-kind donations to the PCG Foundation and the Task Force Kalinga. In return, we will strive to transport as many relief goods and critical supplies as possible – safely and swiftly to the affected regions, including far-flung coastal communities,” CG Admiral Laroya said.

“We are also working with various shipping companies, including 2GO and Phil Span Asia, that volunteered their vessels to augment our relief transport missions. We are confident that we can continue to move closer to the full recovery of the affected families despite another COVID-19 surge,” the Coast Guard Commandant added.

As of yesterday, 03 January 2022, Coast Guard vessels and air assets have transported a total of 1,037.7 tons of relief goods. Moreover, PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) aircraft and private vessels that are part of the ongoing relief transport missions have ferried 288.5 tons of supplies, bringing the tally to 1,326.2 tons of transported relief goods and critical supplies to support the rehabilitation of the affected families of Typhoon #OdettePH.

As per the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the PCG continues to utilize all its available assets and resources to help in the recovery of typhoon-stricken provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.