Special PAF flight brings relief, helps stranded passengers in Batanes
TUGUEGARAO CITY—A Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft was deployed on Monday to fly a special mission from Manila to Batanes and back to assist over 100 stranded passengers—including foreign and local tourists—who have been unable to leave the island province due to the cancellation of commercial flights caused by the southwest monsoon, or “habagat.”
In its late-night flight advisory issued at 11 p.m. on Sunday, PAF said the flight, requested by the provincial government of Batanes, would transport affected travelers as well as deliver essential relief supplies to remote communities hit by persistent bad weather.
Batanes, the country’s smallest and northernmost province, has been attracting tourists because of its raw, scenic and pristine environment; the lure of its stone houses and lighthouses; and a chance to experience the unique culture of its people, the Ivatans. But reaching its towns, including the capital Basco on Batan Island and the island-municipality of Itbayat, has been largely dependent on the weather.
Last Saturday, officials of Itbayat sounded the alarm over the scarcity of basic commodities like rice and fuel because in the last two weeks, no vessel could reach the island due to the prevailing rough seas spawned by the habagat.
Tracking
Basco has also been largely left isolated by the prevailing inclement weather, which prompted the provincial government to seek help from PAF to send an aircraft to bring supplies and transport out tourists stranded on the islands for at least two weeks.
The C-130 arrived in Basco at noon on Monday and returned to Manila later on the day, with about a hundred people on board.
PAF clarified the flight has limited passenger slots and would only accommodate those traveling the Basco–Laoag–Manila route.
Foreign passengers were required to provide a valid identification card or passport and a signed flight waiver and must be photographed upon arrival at Basco Airport as part of the boarding protocol.
The Batanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Monday also reminded locally stranded individuals to register via QR (quick response) code before boarding for safety and tracking purposes.
While the C-130 is primarily designed for cargo and humanitarian missions—without the standard comforts of commercial flights—it remains vital for emergency operations, especially under adverse weather conditions.
According to PAF, the aircraft’s ability to carry both passengers and relief goods is part of its role in supporting isolated areas like Batanes during climate-related disruptions.
Hope for good weather
The provincial social welfare office in Basco has stock of supplies ready to be deployed to isolated areas, particularly Itbayat, but it could not be done unless the weather would allow safe travel to the island-town, the country’s northernmost municipality.
Nilda Salengua Garcia, Itbayat municipal planning and development officer, said on Monday afternoon that they hoped for a good weather to allow boats to ferry supplies to the island by Tuesday or Wednesday.
She said that insufficient fuel supply also halted a planned small aircraft flight between Basco and Itbayat on Sunday.
As of Monday, Itbayat has been isolated for 17 days without supplies from outside.
Garcia said a cargo ship ferrying commodities from Manila was expected to arrive in Basco within 36 hours, barring any weather disturbance that could suspend its arrival.
She said their social welfare office has already prepared goods for distribution to residents once the boats that would bring goods could not arrive.
