President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to mobilize resources and extend humanitarian assistance to Myanmar and Thailand following a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck the region, Malacañang said Monday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that an interagency meeting led by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. resulted in the deployment of 114 personnel to provide aid to the affected countries.
The contingent, scheduled to depart on Tuesday, April 1, will include representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and private sector groups.
“The President has instructed our agencies to act swiftly in assisting our neighboring countries,” Castro said in a press briefing. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and Thailand during this time of crisis.”
Castro emphasized that the government remains committed to supporting overseas Filipino workers and citizens in the affected areas, with concerned agencies actively monitoring their conditions.
The earthquake, which struck Myanmar and affected parts of Thailand, caused significant damage and raised concerns about the safety and welfare of residents and foreign nationals.
The Philippine Air Force will transport the humanitarian team to Myanmar on Tuesday, April 1. A send-off ceremony is scheduled at 4:00 a.m. at the Base Operations of Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Myanmar,” said Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, emphasizing the Philippines’ readiness to respond to the urgent needs of affected communities.
Nepomuceno underscored the government’s commitment to supporting Myanmar, drawing from the Philippines’ recent experience in providing aid to Turkey and Syria after major earthquakes.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “Philippine contingent off to Myanmar for quake response mission.”