12 December 2013 – Philippine Ambassador Leslie B. Gatan on December 09 dedicated a Christmas tree decorated with Philippine-made ornaments to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for their immense humanitarian work in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines.
Canada dispatched to the Philippines last month engineering units, medical staff and water purification systems to address critical emergency needs and to help coordinate and deliver relief in outlying regions in the Visayas. With an operations base established in Roxas City, CAF’s 315-member Task Force Philippines has produced some 245,777 litres of purified water for distribution;treated 5,038 medical patients;delivered approximately 81,255 pounds of food and 7,800 pounds of shelter and building materials on behalf of non-governmental organizations;delivered approximately 59,536 pounds of humanitarian assistance goods on behalf of local authorities;cleared 122 km of roads; andconducted 128 CH-146 Griffon sorties.
Among the CAF resources and assets deployed to support Operations Renaissance 13-1 in the Philippines were a CC-144 Challenger which transported the Interdepartmental Strategic Support Team (ISST) and conducted 60 sorties for coordination and reconnaissance missions; a CC-150 Polaris transporting members of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and equipment; three (3) CC-177 Globemaster III to transport personnel and equipment; three (3) CH-146 Griffon helicopters to provide mobility and coordination and medical evacuation; a Light Support Service Vehicle Wheeled (LSVW) Command Post providing command and control capability; a LSVW Ambulance to provide mobility to the medical staff and provide basic level of medical support; two (2) LSVW Cargo to transport equipment throughout the Canadian area of operations; two (2) Multi-Purpose Engineering Vehicle (MPEV) to provide loading and digging capability; two (2) Rough Terrain Fork Lift (RTFL) to lift heavy loads in austere and rugged environments; three (3) Heavy Engineering Support Vehicle with Palletized Load System (HESV + PLS) to transport heavy loads including the Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU); one Medium Logistics Vehicle Wheeled (MLVW); three (3) ROWPU to provide safe drinking water; and two (2) Heavy Logistics Vehicle Wheeled (HLVW) Bowser to support CH-146 operations.
Canadians experts have also joined an INTERPOL team that helped assess Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) requirements in typhoon-ravaged areas.
Ambassador Gatan presented the Philippine tree to Mr. Mark O’Neill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada’s largest museum, which mounted a Christmas Tree Decorating Challenge last year. TN Philippines supplied the ornaments for the Philippine tree which was voted the winner among 15 entries. As the contest winner, the Philippines was given the sole privilege of decorating a bigger Christmas tree at the Museum this year.
“This Christmas season, we remember the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) deployed to the Philippines as members of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). We dedicate this Christmas tree to them in this season of giving and thanksgiving as they stand in solidarity with the Filipino people at great personal sacrifice,” Ambassador Gatan announced. END