AUGMENTATION GROUPS

Coast Guards in Ilocos Norte under Cdr. Paul Mariano, station commander, prepare for deployment in the worst flood-hit province of Cagayan to augment their fellow elements of the Philippine Coast Guards. Cdr. Mariano said their three Deployable Response Groups are armed with complete rescue equipment including 2 aluminum boats, and 1 rubber boat. They will be deployed inTuguegarao City to beef up their colleagues for search and rescue operations in the different towns which remain underwater as of this writing. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard) See related story at page 5