TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — With the ongoing vaccination drive of the government, the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (NoLCom) intensifies its support in the delivery of vaccines to Fuga Island, the second-northernmost in the province of Cagayan.
Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo, Acting Commander of NoLCom, in a statement said Lt. Col. Sadiri Tabutol of the Philippine Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group 2 enabled the safe delivery of the vaccines to the far-flung islands of Cagayan.
Meanwhile, Tabutol emphasized that TOG 2, as the PAF’s working arm in Region 2, is always at the forefront to partner with other government agencies and stakeholders “in our united efforts to curb the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Tabutol said one canister containing three vials of Sinovac, 216 vials of Pfizer, 1,000 vials of Jansen, three boxes of assorted medicine and supplies, and seven Department of Health and local government personnel were aboard the military’s Sokol helicopter.
The vaccines will boost the immune system and protect the residents against COVID-19, he stressed.
Brig. Gen. Araus Robert Musico, Wing Commander of Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon (TOWNOL), disclosed that as of January, they conducted a total of 12 air missions in support of the government’s COVID vaccination rollout to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in North Luzon.
“The national government is persistent in supporting the health requirements of each and every Filipino. No place in the country is too far nor too remote for the Philippine Air Force’s air assets to reach. Its highly reliable air forces in the Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon jointly works hand in hand with the different AFP Units under the Northern Luzon Command in accomplishing national security and development missions,” Musico said.
Costelo said the use of the military’s strategic resources “harmonizing with soldiers’ commitment to duty and selfless service has contributed significantly to mitigating the further spread of COVID-19 in the northern border.”
“Rest assured, the defenders of the North will remain steadfast in their duty to put the interest of their countrymen first, selflessly putting their lives on the line to serve and give hope to the Filipino people,” he added.
Costelo rallied the troops and stakeholders to remain tough and strengthen their resolve in fighting the unseen enemy.