Malacañang commends PH contingent to Myanmar for fulfilling mission

Malacañang on Monday extended its gratitude to the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) for completing its mission nearly two weeks after it was deployed to earthquake-hit Myanmar to provide assistance.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro expressed appreciation to the 89-man team, who just returned to the Philippines on Sunday night from Myanmar after it was devastated by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake last month.  

“Nagkaro'n po ito ng commendation at sila talaga ay pinarangalan dahil sa kanilang napakatapang na pagsagupa dito sa kanilang obligasyon at duty,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

(The PIAHC was commended and they were honored for very bravely fulfilling their obligation and duty.)

“Kaya ang lahat na nanggaling at tumulong sa Myanmar, kayo ay aming pinapapasalamatan. Kapuri-puri ang inyong mga ginawa,” she added.

(To everyone who went to and helped in Myanmar, we thank you. What you did is really amazing.)

The PIAHC includes members from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Department of Health - Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Emergency Response Team, Energy Development Corporation, and Apex Mining Co., Inc.

The first batch of the contingent left on April 1 for Myanmar, while the second batch followed the next day.

They were tasked to provide disaster response and humanitarian assistance in Myanmar that was hit by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28.

More than 3,000 people reportedly died in the powerful quake, including two Filipinos. Two other Filipinos also remain unaccounted for. —KG, GMA Integrated News