MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard has sent two of its Parola-class patrol vessels to bring relief goods to Itbayat, Batanes, which was struck by twin earthquakes over the weekend.
Capt. Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said BRP Malabrigo and BRP Capones left for Batanes early Thursday bringing relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the PCG Auxiliary.
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The relief includes rice, canned goods, milk, blankets, folding beds and tents.
Additional PCG personnel were also aboard the vessels to assist in medical activities and relief operations in the province.
Aside from the patrol vessels, the coast guard's Islander plane also flew to Batanes to bring relief goods and help in medical evacuations and transport activities.
PCG to enforce Philppine sovereignty in undisputed Batanes
The two Parola-class patrol vessels of the PCG will also patrol the waters off Batanes to enforce Philippine sovereignty and conduct law enforcement activities after the relief operations.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier directed the PCG to intensify surveillance of the country's territory in northern Luzon.
"You might want to ask the coast guard to — stay here, stay for a while and switch once in a while, to patrol the island from time to time. Not every day but just to assure that those islands will remain ours," Duterte said in a briefing with Batanes officials Sunday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the president's order was to deter poachers and anybody who will encroach in Philippine territory.
"The directive of the president is clear for the coast guard to station... just one ship, one boat to patrol the area," Lorenzana said in an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source" earlier this week.