NAKABALIK na sa Pilipinas ang 89-man team Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent, matapos ang kanilang deployment sa Myanmar dahil sa 7.7 magnitude na lindol na tumama sa nasabing bansa noong Marso 28.
Pinagkalooban ng ‘heroes’ welcome’ ang bumubuo ng 89-man team mula sa iba’t-ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan at pribadong sektor nang salubungin sila sa Villamor Air Base sa Pasay City lulan ng C-130 cargo plane ng Philippine Air Force.
Nakabalik na ang Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC), na pinamumunuan ni Lieutenant Colonel Erwen S Diploma PAF, matapos ang kanilang two-week humanitarian mission sa Myanmar na sinalanta ng magnitude 7.7 earthquake .
Pinangunahan nina Secretary of National Defense Hon. Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., kasama si Department of Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa; Civil Defense Administrator and OCD Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno; Chief of Staff, AFP, General Romeo S Brawner Jr PA; Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, Lieutenant General Arthur M Cordura PAF at mga kinatawan mula sa iba’t- ibang partner agencies ang welcoming party.
Kabilang sa nasabing contingent ang mga tauhan Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Department of Health – Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Emergency Response Team, Energy Development Corporation at Apex Mining Co., Inc.
Sa kanyang mensahe, ipinarating ni DND Secretary Teodoro, Jr. ang pagbati at pasasalamat ni President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sa ipinakitang commitment at tapang ng PIAHC.
Pinapurihan din ni DOH Secretary Herbosa ang Philippine contingents sa kanilang “selflessness, compassion and unwavering spirit” sa paghahatid ng life-saving aid sa gitna ng nasabing kalamidad .
“This mission underscores the Philippine’s readiness to extend humanitarian assistance beyond its borders and strengthens regional cooperation through unified, inter-agency efforts,” ani Herbosa, habang pinangunahan ni OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno ang send-off noong Abril 1 at inaasahang mangunguna rin sa welcome reception.
Nagtapos ang misyon ng Philippine humanitarian team noong Abril 12 at pinasalamatan sila ni Philippine Embassy in Myanmar Charge d’Affaires Angelito Nayan para sa kanilang natatanging serbisyo.
Sa ngayon ay nakapagpadala na ang Pilipinas ng 19,458 pounds ng humanitarian aid, kabilang ang hygiene kits at mga tarpaulins mula sa Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance.
“With deep gratitude, I humbly receive the message of appreciation from the President and the Secretary of National Defense. It is a great honor for me as the Contingent Commander and my team to serve in the name of our country,” ayon kay PIAHC contingent commander Lieutenant Erwen Diploma.
