The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority's multi-awarded Search and Rescue team joins the Philippine contingent deployed to help victims of the Feb. 6 magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Türkiye.
SBMA's 9-man SAR team headed by Fire Department Chief Ranny D. Magno is part of the Filipino Search and Rescue contingent that arrived in Istanbul on Thursday noon (February 9).
"Our response team just confirmed that they landed at Istanbul. Our OCD (Office of Civil Defense) representative messaged at 12:08 p.m. (PST) that they landed," said OCD joint information center head Diego Agustin Mariano in a message to reporters.
He added that the Philippine contingent departed from Manila for Istanbul around midnight.
These personnel were aboard Turkish Airlines Flight TK 85.
The Filipino contingent consisted of 85 personnel, of which 33 are from the Armed Forces of the Philippines; 21 from the Army's 525th Engineer Combat Battalion, 51st Engineer Brigade; and 12 from the Air Force 505th Search and Rescue Group.
Other contingent members are as follows, two from the OCD, 10 from the Metro Manila Development Authority, nine from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and 31 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) from the Department of Health.
Earlier, Defense officer-in-charge Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said they aimed for this team to rely on their own and not be a burden to the host country.
The contingent will also bring goods to be donated to the quake victims. These goods include clothing and sleeping kits for winter, and hygiene and sanitary kits, which will be provided by the OCD, together with the private sector and local government units.
"This is our contribution to humanity, and the President ordered us for the response teams to prepare for deployment, for the people of Türkiye," Galvez said. (SNL/PNA)
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