The multi-agency humanitarian contingent deployed to Myanmar after a devastating earthquake in March was again recognized by the national government on Friday, July 4.

Members of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) and the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) were acknowledged for their critical role in providing humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28.

The contingent also presented an “after-action” report of its mission, which included recommendations to improve the country’s disaster response capabilities.

“Itong pag-deploy natin sa Myanmar ay patunay ng ating readiness na makitulong at mag-deploy ng multi-agency at multi-expertise task force sa mabilisang panahon (This deployment to Myanmar is proof of our readiness to assist and deploy a multi-agency and multi-expertise task force in a short period of time),” Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

“Hindi lang ito naging exercise ng fill-up ng personnel o pagkakalap ng tao, kung hindi logisticizing din; coordination magmula sa OCD [Office of Civil Defense], sa inter-agency, sa Armed Forces, sa foreign governments (This was not just an exercise in filling up personnel or gathering people, but also involved logistics; coordination from the OCD [Office of Civil Defense], inter-agency efforts, the Armed Forces, and foreign governments),” added Teodoro, who also serves as the chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The PIAHC deployed to Myanmar included urban search and rescue teams from the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

There also medical professionals from the Department of Health's (DOH) Philippine Medical Assistance Team (PMAT); private sector partners; and logistics and coordination support personnel from the OCD.

They worked alongside the ASEAN-ERAT to provide essential services such as medical care, relief operations, logistics support, conduct rapid damage assessments, and deliver immediate aid in affected areas in Myanmar from April 1 to 13.

The contingent also coordinated with local and international humanitarian partners under the ASEAN framework to facilitate the swift recovery of the quake victims.

“Tulad din ng ating pakikibaka sa West Philippine Sea na hindi tayo nagpapatinag, hindi tayo umaatras, dito naman nagpapakita tayo ng puso ng Pilipino na tumutulong tayo sa nanangailangan (Just like our struggle in the West Philippine Sea where we do not back down or retreat, here we show the heart of the Filipino, that we help those in need),” Teodoro shared.

“At tumutulong tayo nang agad-agaran na wala tayong hinihintay na sukli (And we provide help immediately, without expecting anything in return),” he stressed.

During the ceremony, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. also lauded the team’s professionalism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to regional solidarity and disaster response.

He emphasized that their willingness to offer their lives to help the people of Myanmar “proved the Philippines is always ready to extend a helping hand to its ASEAN neighbors in times of crisis.”

The ceremony was graced by DOH Sec. Teodoro Herbosa Jr. and OCD officer-in-charge Asst. Sec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV.