Philippine Coast Guard patrol boats to deliver aid to quake-stricken island community

The Philippine Coast Guard is set to deploy two of its patrol vessels to provide humanitarian aid to a small island community that was recently devastated by an earthquake.

The Parola-class multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) BRP Malabrigo and BRP Capones will leave Manila and sail more than 600 kilometres to the Philippines’ northernmost province of Batanes with food, linens, and other relief items for residents of the town of Itbayat, which was struck by a series of strong magnitude 5 tremors on Saturday, July 27.

The earthquake had left nine people dead, dozens more injured, and a yet undetermined extent of damage to property in addition to forcing nearly 3,000 people from their homes to seek temporary refuge in evacuation centres.

Malabrigo and Capones have also deployed with medical assistance teams to augment the doctors, nurses, and other health workers that the national and provincial governments have despatched to the area since the crisis began.

Coast guard commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino said that, following the delivery of aid, the MRRVs will conduct maritime security patrols in the waters off Batanes.