The government is considering sending either a response team or aid to help Syria, which was also struck by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that affected Turkey on Monday.
Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo the Syrian government formally sent a “flash appeal” to the Philippines on Wednesday night.
“That is what we are evaluating now with DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs]. Either we can send another contingent or send donations or relief items. No decision yet but we have already received through DFA a similar call from Syria and we are evaluating it,” Alejandro said Thursday.
“It’s an appeal for international assistance,” he added.
The Philippines’ 83-person response team arrived in Istanbul on Thursday at 12:08 p.m., Philippine time. It will help in search and rescue operations, and provide relief assistance to victims in the quake-hit country.
Alejandro said the Philippine contingent will be assigned to Adana, one of the 10 provinces severely affected by the tremor.
“They were warmly received by our counterpart doon and our Philippine consulate. Our PH embassy officials were there to meet them. They had an initial briefing, then they will be transported again to their assigned region which is Adana. It is south of Istanbul,” the official noted.
“They are set to depart at 11 a.m., Istanbul time for Adana.
Initially, 18 buildings collapsed there per report. Our USAR is a medium-type USAR team capable of doing collapsed structure search and rescue.”
Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Elena Algabre will meet the Philippine contingent in Adana.
“(Algabre) went around to check on our OFWs and the Filipino community in the southern part ng Turkey,” Alejandro said.
“As soon as they arrive… They will officially register with the Adana emergency operations center. They will set up their command post as the Philippine contingent, with their billeting and sleeping quarters.
Hopefully, first crack tomorrow morning, even late in the evening, they can start working,” he added.
