Filipino rescuers arrive to aid Myanmar quake relief efforts

The 91-member Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PHIAC) arrived in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, on Tuesday afternoon to assist in disaster response efforts following the magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck the region.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) confirmed that two C-130 aircraft were used to transport the first batch of humanitarian personnel and their equipment. The Philippine aircraft made a brief stop for refueling at Phitsanulok Airport in Thailand before landing in Myanmar.

Led by Lt. Col. Erwen Diploma of the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine contingent includes Urban Search and Rescue Teams from the PAF, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and private sector groups such as EDC and APEX Mining. It also includes the Philippine Medical Assistance Team from the Department of Health and coordinators from the OCD.

The first group of 58 personnel was flown in on two C-130 aircraft, with the remaining 33 members scheduled to arrive on a single C-130 on Wednesday, 2 April.

The PHIAC team is carrying essential search and rescue equipment, medical supplies, and will provide critical medical assistance and aid throughout the mission. Additionally, 40 personnel from the Philippine Air Force are part of the contingent, serving as C-130 aircrew, aeromedical personnel, and aircraft security.

Bishop urges prayers for Myanmar

A Catholic bishop on Tuesday urged the faithful to pray for the victims of the magnitude-7.7 earthquake that rocked Myanmar and Thailand, so far killing over 2,000 people.

The powerful tremor struck on Friday, 28 March, with the epicenter near Myanmar’s second-largest city of Mandalay. It damaged the city’s airport, buckled roads, and collapsed hundreds of buildings.

“Let’s include them in our prayers, let’s not remain silent in these events. Those affected and those who are suffering are our fellow human beings,” Taytay, Palawan Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in an interview over church-run Radio Veritas.

“That is also God’s warning to us that what happened to them might also happen to us, so I hope our preparedness, our readiness is there, and let’s always pray that we have the strength so that when this calamity comes, we will be saved,” Pabillo added.

4 Pinoys still missing

The prelate also called for prayers for the well-being of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipino migrants in Southeast Asian nations.

“Many have died, many have lost their homes and will lose their jobs, let’s pray for them. May they not lose hope, and let’s also pray for our Filipino OFWs who are with them,” he added.

Four Filipinos remain missing in Myanmar, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The DFA said the search is ongoing for the OFWs, all of whom are teachers who lived in the Sky Villa condominium that collapsed in Mandalay.