Army’s 703rd Brigade joins Tarlac relief, rescue mission

LA PAZ, Tarlac --- The 703rd Brigade of the Philippine Army recently conducted disaster and rescue operations in the flooded Barangays of San Isidro and San Roque here to assist victims of the excessive rainfall brought by typhoon “Pepeng”.
Troops of the 703rd Brigade, in coordination with the La Paz Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council, were able to rescue 176 families from the flood stricken barangays and evacuate them to safer ground. Moreover, the said troops transported more than 2,000 packs of relief goods to affected barangays across strong current of flood waters.
La Paz is one of the most affected areas as it lies along the path of flood waters coming from the Pantabangan Dam through Pampanga River.
Also recently, the brigade had been in the forefront in conducting rescue and relief operations to the devastated areas of typhoon “Ondoy” particularly the mudslide in Arayat where the brigade was able to evacuate 1,000 residents, save eight others who were trapped under the debris and recovered 12 dead bodies; the flood in Marilao, Bulacan; and the relief and rescue operation in Botolan, Zambales and Masantol, Macabebe and Guagua of the Pampanga Province.
At present, the 703 Brigade, in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council as well as the MDCCs, specifically in those areas that lie along the Pampanga River, closely monitors the conditions of the water as it might damage dikes and other flood control structures along the channel.
Colonel Jose Z. Mabanta, Jr. has issued specific instructions to all units under his command to be vigilant at all times and be ready to assist the different local disaster coordinating councils.
“I ask everyone under my command to be ready to respond even beyond the call of our traditional duties. This is the time that our countrymen whom we sworn to serve and protect needed us most,” Mabanta said.