Army Engineers Rush to Aid Calamity Victims
As Typhoon "Dante" Leaves Bicol in Disarray

Camp Martillana, Pili, Camarines Sur - Army Engineers belonging to the 565th Engineer Construction Battalion were rushed to Sorsogon City to provide immediate assistance to the badly damaged communities as an aftermath of Typhoon "DANTE" that severely hit the Bicol Region on the dawn of May 3, 2009.

The severely devastated portion in Brgy Hubo, Magallanes, Sorrogon hardest hit by Typhoon “Dante”. (Photo By: 565ECB)

Wasting no time, the Engineers armed with manual tools and sheer determination took off with Medical, Rescue, Search and Security Teams of the 9th Infantry (SPEAR) Division on May 5, 2009 to Barangay Hubo, a coastal community, about 7 km northeast of the Municipality of Magallanes, Sorsogon and was one of the hardest hit by the typhoon. Landslides isolated the populace leaving them with 22 dead, almost a thousand homeless and without medical aid, communication, food & water and appropriate shelter.

While the civilian government is still rallying its resources to provide support, the “Team ARMY” in its modest capability has already started its job. Medical Teams provided immediate health care while Security Teams assisted in search and retrieval operations. As events unfolded, the Army Engineers with a proven record being the most reliable organization that could be immediately respond to relief operations, ground clearing and expedient construction were put into action.

Engineer Soldiers assisting the delivery of Relief Supplies (Photo By: 565ECB)

The 565th ECB under strict guidance of the 51st Engineer Brigade Commander, BGEN FELIZARDO A SIMOY AFP, to exhaust all efforts to contribute to DRRO, and return peoples live to normalcy, pioneered the gathering of local and salvaged materials, barely a day upon their arrival at the area and started the construction of a 105 sq.m Evacuation Center for the temporary shelter of the affected populace.

The shelter made of cocolumber and laminated sacks could accommodate 60 senior citizens, women and children that were displaced by the typhoon. The facility will later be utilized as a temporary classroom for 120 elementary school pupils enrolled in the barangay.

(Clockwise from top) Engineers sourcing materials on site,; During the Construction Phase; and the Completed Temporary Evacuation Shelter. (Photo By: 565ECB)

Backbreaking manual labor did not dampen the spirit of the engineer-soldiers as they work hand-in-hand with the local populace, local government units (LGU’s) and personnel of the Office of Civil Defense 5 (OCD-5) that completed the evacuation shelter on May 13, 2009. Typhoons and natural disasters arrive without warning. . . . but as always, the “Team ARMY” is ready, willing and capable of doing its job in service and welfare of the people.