Amateur radio volunteers from DX2AFP, alongside personnel from the United States Marine Corps, voluntarily deployed emergency radio equipment at the Philippine Red Cross Command Center in Laoag City as Severe Tropical Storm Kiyapo continues to damage several parts of Northern Luzon.

The deployment was aimed at strengthening emergency communication capabilities and ensuring reliable, redundant communication links should conventional telecommunications be disrupted by the severe weather.

According to the organizers, the installed amateur radio systems serve as an auxiliary communication network, allowing responders to rapidly relay critical information among disaster response teams, humanitarian organizations, and local government authorities.

The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to support disaster response operations by maintaining uninterrupted communication during emergencies, particularly in areas vulnerable to power outages and telecommunications failures caused by heavy rains and strong winds.

Amateur radio operators have long played a key role in disaster response in the Philippines, providing backup communication during natural disasters when regular communication infrastructure becomes unreliable or unavailable.

The joint deployment with the U.S. Marine Corps underscores continued cooperation in strengthening emergency preparedness and response capabilities in Northern Luzon amid the impacts of Severe Tropical Storm Kiyapo.