AFP assures swift disaster response as rainy season begins

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said on Sunday that fulfilling their duty to protect the people and secure the nation also involves being prepared for humanitarian and disaster response operations.

In an interview, Col. Padilla assured the public that their unified command, task forces, and partner government agencies are actively working to provide a fast and well-coordinated response during emergencies.

Officers continue to undergo regular and advanced training for disaster response operations, including water search and rescue, casualty evacuation, and first aid. All of this is being done to maintain readiness to respond to any situation.

"Mayroon tayong mga prepositioned na assets and personnel sa mga high risk area, na maaaring agad i-deploy sa oras ng pangangailangan," she added.
The AFP signed a reciprocal access agreement with Japan and is reported to be conducting heavy joint training with them.

The modernization of the AFP is improving not just national defense but also the country’s ability to respond to disasters and emergencies. Officials said this progress is due to strong partnerships with supportive countries, and they rate the current Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capability at 7 to 8 out of 10.

"Tinitiyak ng AFP na may sapat tayong logistical capacity para maihatid ang tulong kung kailan at saan kailangan," she added.