PH sends team to Myanmar for earthquake response, relief mission

The first batch of the Philippine contingent who will provide disaster response and humanitarian assistance in earthquake-hit Myanmar departed Manila early Tuesday morning.

Of the 91 members of the contingent, the Philippines sent off 58 personnel onboard two C-130 planes from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 4 a.m.

“Two C-130 aircraft transported the initial 58 contingent members for their two-week deployment to Myanmar, with the remaining 33 members scheduled for transport by a single C-130 aircraft on April 2, 2025,” the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said in a statement.

The Philippine contingent for the Myanmar mission, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Erwen S. Diploma, consists of urban search and rescue teams from the following groups:

 

• Philippine Army;
• Philippine Air Force;
• Bureau of Fire Protection;
• Metropolitan Manila Development Authority;
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and
• Private Sector (EDC and APEX Mining).

The Philippine contingent also has a medical assistance team from the Department of Health (DOH) as well as coordinators from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

“Bringing with them essential search and rescue equipment and medical supplies, these personnel are ready to perform life-saving operations, provide medical assistance, and deliver critical aid throughout the mission,” PAF said.

Aside from them, 40 PAF personnel are also part of the mission as C-130 aircrew, aeromedical personnel, and aircraft security.

 

“Pagtulong doon sa mga maaaring paghahanap doon sa mga maaaring buhay pa na mga naipit doon sa mga gumuhong mga istraktura diyan sa Myanmar,” OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a report by GMA Integrated News’ Bam Alegre on Unang Balita.

(We will help in searching for those who may still be alive, who are trapped in collapsed structures in Myanmar.)

“'Yan ang importante dahil may panahon pa upang mailigtas sila (That is important because there is still time to rescue them),” he added.

For his part, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that sending Filipino personnel to Myanmar may also help in the preparation for responding to “The Big One” in the country.

“Ini-inspire ko sila para umalis. Sabi ko, kayo sa Eastern Visayas Medical Center, sila ang tinamaan ng Typhoon Haiyan. So experienced din ito sa big-time na disaster kasi sila 'yung mga personnel na tumulong during sa Typhoon Haiyan,” Herbosa said.

(I inspired them so they will go [to Myanmar]. I told the personnel from the Eastern Visayas Medical Center that they were the ones hit by Typhoon Haiyan, so they have experience in big-time disasters because they are the personnel who helped during Typhoon Haiyan.)

“Sabi ko, 'Kapag nagkaroon ng Big One sa Metro Manila, kayo ang magreresponde sa amin (I told them that if The Big One happens in Metro Manila, you will be the ones to respond to us),” he added.

The PAF said the mission to Myanmar affirms the Philippine government's dedication to humanitarian assistance, reinforcing its commitment to swift disaster response and regional cooperation.

The death toll in Myanmar following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake last March 28 has reached 2,065, according to state media. More than 3,900 were injured and at least 270 were missing.

Four Filipinos were reported unaccounted for. —KG, GMA Integrated News