The United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) will be sending its crisis action team to the Philippines in response to the ongoing impact of recent typhoons.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced the development in a video message on Tuesday, stating that the move follows an agreement between Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and USINDOPACOM Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo to coordinate combined response efforts. 

Teodoro also noted that the AFP has activated all nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country for the deployment of air assets and distribution of relief goods. 

“Habang may pag-uulan, patuloy po and pakikipag-ugnayan nitong dalawang armed forces ng Estados Unidos at ng Republika ng Pilipinas (Amid the rain, the coordination between the armed forces of the United States and the Republic of the Philippines continues),” Teodoro said. 

The defense chief also noted that the country’s other allied nations have also coordinated to augment in the disaster response efforts. 

He said Paparo has pledged his support to Brawner in coordinating joint rescue and relief operations during these challenging times. 

“Admiral Paparo personally committed support. He’s now returning to Hawaii to help organize these combined efforts," Teodoro emphasized.

Teodoro said the Department of National Defense and AFP are continuously monitoring the effects of the typhoons across the country.