PH ready to deploy new humanitarian contingent to quake-hit Myanmar

The Philippines stands ready to send another humanitarian contingent to earthquake-devastated Myanmar once its current team returns home, possibly with overseas Filipinos distressed by the catastrophe.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) gave the assurance on Saturday as the Philippine contingent continued to provide disaster response and aid to affected areas in Myanmar.

"Should Myanmar require further assistance, we stand ready to deploy an additional humanitarian contingent to replace the first team, which is scheduled to return to the Philippines on April 12," OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement.

The first batch of the current Philippine contingent with 58 members arrived in Myanmar on April 1, while the second batch with 33 members came on April 2.

As for citizens affected by the tragedy, the OCD said, "Filipinos who wish to repatriate can join our humanitarian contingent on their flight back home."

In a Facebook post late Friday evening, the Philippine embassy reported that it has "provided transportation and temporary accommodation to the first batch of Filipinos who availed of the Embassy's voluntary relocation program for distressed Overseas Filipino Workers affected by the 7.7 earthquake."

"While under the custody of the Embassy, the Filipinos will be offered welfare assistance (including financial assistance) and medical assistance (including trauma counselling)," it added.

The death toll from Myanmar's powerful earthquake on March 28 has surpassed 3,000, with hundreds more missing, as forecasts of unseasonal rain presented a new challenge for rescue and aid workers trying to reach people in a country riven by civil war.

Four Filipinos remain unaccounted in the quake's aftermath. A Filipino teacher in Myanmar who knew three of the unaccounted has appealed that the Philippine humanitarian team prioritize helping countrymen in Mandalay, one of the worst-affected cities.

Search for Filipinos

The OCD said that inasmuch as it wants the Philippine humanitarian contingent to be part of the search for Filipinos, the team has to comply with the coordinated effort on disaster response involving international teams.

"We really wanted our humanitarian contingent in Myanmar to be the ones to locate are kababayans, who are believed to be trapped in the rubble of the Sky Villa," said Nepomuceno, referring to the Sky Villa building which collapsed in Mandalay.

"However, we must adhere to the directives of Myanmar authorities and follow their operational plans. Urban search and rescue teams from Myanmar, Vietnam, Russia, and China are currently assigned to the Sky Villa area," Nepomuceno said.

Response, rescue ops continue

Meanwhile, members of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) have recovered a deceased individual from the collapsed Jade City Hotel and Entertainment Complex in Myanmar capital of Nay Pyi Taw.

The OCD said the victim has been identified and was an employee of Jade City. The remains were in a state of decomposition and have been turned over to Myanmar authorities.

In a separate statement, the OCD said the PIAHC was "actively engaged" in the ongoing rescue and medical operations "to provide crucial support to affected communities." 

The contingent has 89 members, although the OCD previously reported that the number was 91.

The OCD said PHIAC Commander Lt. Col. Erwen Diploma, PAF, on Saturday morning visited the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team at the Jade City Hotel site, where teams from the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Indonesia have been working together to locate potential victims trapped in the rubble.

“The PEMAT Type 1 Fixed Hospital, located near Bomingaung Temple, officially began operations on April 4, providing free check-ups and medicines, and was launched with representatives from the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Ministry of Information present,” the agency said.

“The hospital has already seen significant demand for medical services, with a queue forming shortly after it opened,” it added.

Urgent healthcare

On April 3, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the second augmentation team at Lewe Township Hospital conducted 17 medical consultations, including six cases of general medicine, six surgical cases, four orthopedic cases, and one obstetric case.

Four cases were indirectly related to the earthquake, while the remainder were unrelated.

"Starting at 8 a.m. on April 3 and continuing until 5 a.m. on April 4, the PEMAT Type 1 Fixed Field Hospital began operations in Pyinmana, delivering comprehensive medical and public health services," the OCD said.

"On its first day, the hospital received 94 patients, including 68 for general medicine, 20 for surgical issues, and two each for pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and orthopedic cases," it added.

Among the patients treated, 71 were female and 23 were male, according to the agency.

Apart from medical operations, the OCD said, the USAR team focused on the Jade City Hotel, where the entertainment building's ground floor had collapsed.

“Despite challenges such as limited communication and extreme heat, the team has effectively managed operations by utilizing local interpreters to facilitate communication with patients. Continuous coordination meetings have been held to enhance teamwork and operational efficiency,” it said.

"The USAR team concentrated on retrieving victims at the Jade City Hotel, but progress was hindered by heavy debris that limited visibility. Operations began at 9:30 a.m. but were halted due to structural challenges at 3:30 p.m. All personnel are accounted for and in good health," it said. — with a report from Ted Cordero/ VDV, GMA Integrated News