The Office of Civil Defense (OCD), as the logistics lead of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), conducted a relief mission to Batanes and Calayan on September 25, 2025, delivering essential supplies and assisting the return of 88 stranded tourists to Manila.
In partnership with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and other agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Health (DOH), OCD oversaw the distribution of 679 family food packs (FFPs) to Calayan and 600 FFPs along with 237 kilograms of medical supplies to Batanes.
The mission utilized PAF’s C-130 and Black Hawk aircraft for the delivery operations. The same C-130 aircraft was later used to transport the stranded tourists from Basco Airport in Batanes to Villamor Air Base in Manila. The tourists had been marooned for over ten days due to bad weather brought by the ongoing storm and the Southwest Monsoon.
OCD Assistant Secretary Henry Robinson Jr. led on-site coordination of the relief operations, joined by Governor Ronald Aguto Jr., OCD Spokesperson Junie B. Castillo III, DSWD Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, and DOH Undersecretary Glenn Matthew Baggao. The mission underscored the close coordination between national and local governments in extending timely disaster response.
Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros, meanwhile, urged the public to remain vigilant as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals were raised in several areas. He warned of possible strong winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides.
The operation was conducted under the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the guidance of NDRRMC Chair and Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., reaffirming the administration’s commitment to ensure prompt and adequate assistance for affected communities.
