Back in the old days when natural calamities and disasters strike the country, expert disaster response teams from all over the world are quickly deployed by their respective countries to help Filipinos during those desperate times.
Now, it’s time to return the favor.
Yesterday, a 12-man team from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), together with teams from the Office of the Civil Defense, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Army, and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) were sent to Turkey to help with the country’s disaster response after it was hit by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on February 6, 2023.
“The Ambassador of Turkey requested the team's deployment along with rescuers from other concerned government agencies. The contingent will be transported by Turkish Airlines at no cost,” said acting MMDA Chairman, Atty. Don Artes, as he extended sympathy to the people of Turkey affected by the devastating quake.
The team will stay for an undetermined number of days in Southern Turkey near the Syrian border to assist in the ongoing rescue operations in earthquake-affected areas and will bring with them portable search and rescue tools such as life locator and v-strut which can locate victims under the rubble of collapsed structures.
The MMDA chief said this mission will be a valuable experience for the team as they will be working alongside rescuers from other countries. The agency, according to Artes, is continuously increasing its capabilities in preparation for the Big One.
