The aircraft of the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa transported humanitarian material from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NGO Intersos. The delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the Italian Ambassador in Manila, Massimo Roscigno, was composed of Admiral Danilo Cortez, Presidential Advisor for Military Affairs for the Philippines, the Chief of Cooperation Office of the Italian Embassy, Dr. Luigi Cavestro, the Chief of the detachment of the Inter-Services Operational Command in Manila, Col. Luigi Antonicelli, and local experts in the field of cooperation. At the end of the activity, which saw the collaboration of institutional and non-governmental Italian entities working in favor of the Filipino population, Ambassador Roscigno stated that “
This gesture was important for the city of Guiuan, one of the cities most affected by Typhoon Haiyan. We gladly accepted the request for help and, with Intersos, donated this material.”And continuing he said,“
I find it very positive that in these circumstances the synergies of the Italian system are able to work well together: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and also the private sector, NGOs, we have all contributed to bringing goods here, goods that these populations desperately need. I would like to particularly thank the staff of the Air Force, because their assistance has been extraordinary and their professionalism truly exceptional.”The activity began with the landing in Guiuan, where the Air Force personnel together with Filipino military personnel unloaded over three tons of material from the aircraft. In particular, these included 26 tents, 2 water purifiers, and 2 “
pillow tank”, or inflatable tanks of 5000 liters each. The mayor of Guiuan, Mr. Christopher P. Gonzales, upon receiving the material addressed Ambassador Roscigno and thanked the Italians for their generosity “
I am very happy”The Mayor continued Gonzales,“
because I see the help of the international community. The material that was delivered to us today is very useful; in particular, the water is vital for us at the moment.”Afterwards, the C-27J, before returning to Cebu, made a stop in Tacloban. The delegation here met Ms. Fe S. Renomeron, Mayor of Burauen, a locality where the Italian Civil Protection field hospital is located. The delegation then visited the Italian hospital, where it met Dr. Fabio Grossi, Head of Mission of the Italian Civil Protection, doctors, paramedics, and all the personnel of the Italian and European Civil Protection. A crowd of Filipino citizens gathered around the hospital on the occasion, who warmly welcomed the Italian delegation, thanking Italy for the help it is providing in their region.
Before returning to Tacloban Airport, the delegation stopped in Tanauan, where the Ambassador met with Mayor Pelagio Tecson and the parish priest of the City, and subsequently visited the Italian tent camp composed of over 200 tents, set up by Italian Cooperation and Intersos. The Air Force has been present in the Philippines since last November 21 in support of the Italian Civil Protection and the national and international organizations operating in the region to help the population affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Currently, two aircraft of the 46th Air Brigade, a C-130J and a C-27J, are operating at the airport in Cebu, performing functions such as transporting humanitarian supplies, medicines, displaced persons, military and civilian personnel engaged in rescue operations.
See the photos taken during the mission – Source: Air Force
