Gov’t deploys team to Myanmar

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday a team will be deployed to Myanmar to provide humanitarian aid following the earthquake that struck the country on Friday.

According to DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega, the team is expected to arrive on 2 or 3 April, depending on logistical challenges posed by the extensive damage. The deployment will begin from the Philippines either Monday or Tuesday.

“When they go there, they won’t deliberately look for Filipinos — this is for everyone because that’s the nature of a rescue operation. Myanmar has admitted that they lack the means to recover people from the buildings and the damage is severe,” De Vega said.

The DFA has allocated $100,000 as a “standby fund” for affected Filipinos. The fund will cover shelter expenses, flight tickets for repatriation if necessary, and financial assistance, typically around $1,000 per affected Filipino.

90-man team formed

The 90-man Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PHIAC) will assist Myanmar in search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) operations.

The PHIAC team will include personnel from the Department of Health, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Fire Protection, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the private sector.

OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said the deployment is part of the Philippines’ commitment to the “One ASEAN, One Response” initiative. He said the team will be bringing its experience from previous rescue operations in Turkey and Syria.

Two C-130 Philippine Air Force planes will transport the team and their equipment. The PHIAC will be in Myanmar until 12 April. The Myanmar government will manage the tactical operations onsite.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. expressed condolences and reiterated the Philippines’ readiness to support Myanmar’s urgent needs. Myanmar has requested various forms of assistance, including SAR teams, medical support, and essential supplies.

4 Pinoys missing

Meanwhile, four Filipino workers remain missing. De Vega said they were teachers at an international school in Mandalay, Myanmar. Among them are a married couple, Alexis Gale, 23, and Edsil Jess Adalid, 34, who resided in a condominium building, Sky Villa, in Mandalay.