Troops ferry aid after typhoon

US MILITARY helicopters yesterday ferried tons of aid to a northern Philippine mountain region facing shortages of food, gasoline and coffins after back-to-back typhoons killed more than 600.

The US military was responding to a request from the Philippines to help deal with the aftermath of two major storms since September 26. Tropical Depression Parma blew out of the country’s mountainous north late on Saturday, allowing troops to start airlifting food to Baguio.

The city of more than 300,000 people faced dwindling food and gasoline supplies. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo flew in by helicopter to check the situation. “There is nearly zero gasoline supply now, and we’re running low on food,” Baguio police chief Agrifino Javier said.