PAF to hold send-off rites for troops in Myanmar contingent

MANILA—The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will hold a send-off ceremony Tuesday for its personnel who will be deployed as part of the Philippine Contingent for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Mission to Myanmar. Myanmar was rocked by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28.

“The event is scheduled at 4 a.m. on April 1, 2025 at Base Operations, Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City,” the PAF said in an advisory on Monday.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condoled the earthquake victims and said the Philippines is ready to respond to the urgent needs of Myanmar and that resources are now being mobilized for assistance.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno shared his views, saying his agency, along with other Philippine government agencies, is committed to assisting Myanmar.

He added that Philippine rescue teams will draw on their experience providing immediate aid during the 2023 earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria.

In a separate statement Monday, the OCD said the 90-member Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) was deployed upon President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instructions.

“The 90-member PIAHC will include personnel from various agencies: three representatives from the Office of Civil Defense, 10 from the 525th Engineering Combat Battalion of the Philippine Army, 11 from the 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force, 10 from the Bureau of Fire Protection – Special Rescue Unit, 10 from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, 14 from the private sector, and 32 from the Department of Health,” the agency said.

It added that this deployment complements ongoing efforts by the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché and the Philippine Embassy in Myanmar to provide assistance in the wake of the tragedy.

The Myanmar government has requested urgent assistance, including emergency search and rescue teams (with K-9 or SAR dogs), medical assistance teams, medicines, medical equipment, emergency first aid kits, mobile generators, water sanitation kits, solar-powered lights, and temporary shelters such as tents and tarpaulin sheets.

For humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, Nay Pyi Taw Airport will serve as the primary entry point, while Yangon Airport may be utilized as a refueling site for aircraft. (PNA)