Flying high with Rescue5

I’ve always been in awe of the men and women in uniform. The closest I got to wearing one was when I was in high school as a member of the model platoon unit under the Citizen Army Training (CAT). The idea of being an officer and addressed as “Lieutenant” was far-fetched until recently when TV5’s Rescue5 signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) appointing the former as an affiliated reserve unit in its ranks. Suddenly, the possibility for this writer to receive an officer’s bars opens up, together with the Kapatid Network’s news and public affairs staff and employees; contingent on our taking the required training.

Well, that’s all for the future. What commands our attention for now is the ground-breaking partnership between PAF and Rescue5 aimed at strengthening both institution’s ability and flexibility to respond to disaster anywhere in the country. The agreement signed last July 10 at the Hall of Flags in Villamor Airbase makes Rescue5 an affiliated reserve unit of the Philippine Air Force, designated as the 500th Search and Rescue Group Reserve.

According to Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Commander, Brig. Gen. William Turalde, “As part of the mandate of the Air Force Reserve Command, TV5, which will now become an affiliated unit in the reserve force, is bound to respond to a call for emergency duty by the PAF, AFP, and commit its services in case of emergency, calamity, or disaster. The agreement, on which we will affix our signatures, will stand to be the living witness of our cooperative partnership. A partnership etched in warm comradeship, commitment, trust and optimism.”

TV5 president and CEO Noel Lorenzana said, “We are very grateful to accept the appointment of Rescue5, the emergency response unit of News 5, as an affiliate reserve unit of the Phil. Air Force.  As you know, we in TV5 pride ourselves in delivering real public service. We don’t just deliver news, but also real public service on the streets. As such, we are very proud of the men and women of Rescue5 not only in terms of their delivery of selfless service especially during calamities, but also in the recognition we have received.”

Rescue5 as a news cum disaster first response team is a pioneer in the Philippines, as cited by CNN, as probably the first in the world in equipping reporters in emergency and medical service, and other life-saving skills; aside from covering the news, Rescue5 provides immediate assistance to people in distress during emergencies and disasters, as shown in various occasions in many parts of the country.

“This is a classic example of a private public partnership (PPP) that does not involve cash but for purely public service,” said PAF Chief, Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz. “Very seldom that you can find private entities doing public service. What is beautiful about this partnership is that I think both of us would be strengthening our resources in order to provide one important service to the country, and that is mostly during times of crisis such as in accidents and calamities.”

Signatories of the MOA were Lorenzana and News5 head Luchi Cruz-Valdes, as well as Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Dela Cruz and AFRC Brig. Gen Turalde. Rescue5 host Paolo Bediones, as well as Rescue5 segment host Manu Sandejas also attended.

 Since Rescue5’s launch in March 2011, they were able to respond to 12 floods, four landslides, one volcanic eruption, and numerous vehicular accidents and emergency situations, with more than a thousand individuals rescued. All its members have gone through seven different types of rescue trainings including the Water Search and Rescue conducted by the elite Naval Special Operations Group of the Armed Forces.

For its part, the Philippine Air Force, with its present command thrust of pushing for P.O.W.E.R. U.P. P.A.F. advocacy, is promoting initiatives that will further the command’s capability in providing air power, territorial defense, maritime security, all-out peace plan, international commitment, national development, force build-up, avenues for training and support areas and disaster response.

In the meantime, I think being addressed as Lt. Peachy Vibal-Guioguio sounds pretty cool.