The Department of Health (DOH) Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) left the country early Tuesday morning and is expected to arrive in Myanmar to respond to the needs of those affected by the 7.7 magnitude quake.

DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa personally led the send-off of the team at Villamor Airbase in support of the group, which includes doctors, nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, midwives, and nursing attendants.

"Sabi siguro ng Diyos, may misyon kayo para makatulong sa ibang tao. Sa akin, heroes na kayong lahat (Maybe God decided to give you a mission to help others. For me, you're all heroes)," Herbosa told the PEMAT members during the send-off.

The team will stay in Myanmar for 18 days, where they will offer acute care, life support, trauma management, pharmaceutical provisions, and isolation facilities to those who need it.

The Filipino healthcare professionals can also process patient referrals, among other services.

Meanwhile, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the areas where PEMATs will be assigned will depend on the request of the receiving country.

Led by the Office of Civil Defense, the mission is part of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) to Myanmar.

The death toll from last week's massive tremor in Myanmar has passed 2,000 as of March 31, according to government data.