Philippine and US soldiers worked side by side last week in bringing humanitarian support to residents of Metro Manila and Rizal province suffering from the devastating floods triggered by tropical storm “Ondoy” (international code name Ketsana), which left almost 300 people dead and billions of pesos worth of property and agriculture damaged.

One day after the nation saw the havoc wrought by “Ondoy,” particularly in the eastern part of the National Capital Region (NCR) and in nearby towns of Rizal, US military officers from the Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) temporarily stationed in Zamboanga came up to Manila and helped in the immediate search and rescue efforts by the AFP and other government agencies wherein they used their rubber Zodiak boats, primarily in Cainta and Pasig City. A pregnant woman rescued by the American troops in the eastern part of Metro Manila even gave birth about three hours later.

Two Navy dock landing ships of the United States were also on stand by off the coast of Manila, ready to come up with whatever the Philippine government would say it needs.

US military service members , along with Ambassador Kristie Kenney, and officials of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) also worked with Quezon City and Red Cross officials to distribute food and personal hygiene supplies to flood victims at an evacuation center at Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School, Tatalon, Quezon City.

In the succeeding days following the onslaught of “Ondoy,” members of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stationed in Okinawa, Japan under its commander, Marine Brig. Gen. Mark Brilakis, arrived and joined in the humanitarian efforts.