Phl aid team back from Myanmar

The Philippines is welcoming home its Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent today, 14 April, following a successful relief mission in Myanmar, where the team facilitated the delivery of 19,458 pounds (8,844.63 kilograms) of humanitarian aid — including hygiene kits and tarpaulins donated by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance — using C-130 aircraft provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The 89-member contingent, composed of personnel from various government agencies and private partners, was deployed to support emergency response efforts after the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March, claiming more than 3,600 lives.

The team, which concluded its operations on 12 April, includes members from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Department of Health, 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 group will be welcomed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, with OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, who led the 1 April send-off, expected to oversee the welcome reception.

“I honor your courage and compassion to serve. As a Filipino, I am immensely proud of each of you for being ready to help our neighbors in their time of need,” Nepomuceno said in a statement.

The Philippine Embassy in Myanmar also extended its congratulations, with Chargé d’Affaires Angelito Nayan commending the contingent’s service and resilience during the mission.

The deployment formed part of the “One ASEAN, One Response” initiative, which promotes regional solidarity and coordinated disaster response among Southeast Asian nations.