THE Philippines will deploy an 85-member team tonight to help in search and rescue efforts in Turkey, which is reeling from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that has killed more 9,000 in both Turkey and Syria. 

The team is composed of emergency, medical, and urban search and rescue personnel. 

Of the 85 members, 31 are from the Department of Health, 21 from the Philippine Army, 12 from the Philippine Air Force, 10 from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and 9 from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Another two personnel will serve as administrative and liaison officers. 

They are leaving for Turkey this evening via a commercial flight subsidized by the Turkish government, according to Diego Agustin Mariano, head of the Joint Information Center-Office of Civil Defense. 

Equipment, relief goods included 

Mariano said the rescue team would bring their own equipment with them. These include devices that would help them raise and cut through metal debris to rescue people. They would also bring with them a water filtration machine. 

Emergency medical technicians would provide first aid and treatment of trauma injuries, he said. 

He also said the Philippine government would provide goods for donation to the Turkish citizens. These include blankets, winter clothing, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, and sanitary kits. 

“So, hindi lang po tao ang ipapadala natin, bagkus mayroon din po tayong goods or relief goods na ipapadala diyan po sa Turkey,” he said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

Assignments pending 

The Philippine team would land in Istanbul where they would meet with Philippine embassy officials and representatives from the Turkish government, said Mariano. 

The Turkish government would assess them and determine where the personnel’s expertise and equipment would be needed, he said. 

This is not the first time the Philippines has sent a team to another country to assist in rescue efforts, he said. 

He noted that the Philippines sent rescue personnel in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. 

But he also said the Philippines only sends a humanitarian mission when it receives a request for assistance from another country. This is because sometimes, the affected country could handle things on its own or already has enough help, he said. 

“Kaya hinihintay po natin iyong request ng ibang bansa bago pa tayo magpadala ng tulong para hindi po masayang iyong effort at kalakasan ng ating mga personnel,” he added.