MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ 82-person search and rescue contingent sent to Turkey is already busy with “Hasty Search” operations in Adiyaman, one of the areas devastated by last Monday’s strong earthquake, in the hope of finding victims under the rubble.
Following protocols of the hasty search – a fast paced methodological process of searching for victims or signs of life in an assigned area – Filipino rescuers began to spread out last Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.
Meanwhile in Manila, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. thanked the Japanese government for its donation of training and equipment for search and rescue to the Philippine Army’s 525th Engineer Combat Battalion who are part of the contingent sent to Turkey to assist in the daunting task of locating survivors.
Galvez assured Japanese Minister Hamada Yasukazu during an earlier meeting of the Philippine government’s continuous support in promoting peace, stable and rule-based conduct among nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Philippine Emergency Medical and Urban Search and Rescue Team (PEMUSRT) is a contingent of 82 members composed of 30 from the Department of Health (DOH), 21 from the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion, 12 from the 505th Search and Rescue Group of the the Philippine Air Force (PAF), nine from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), eight from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and 2 from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
“The Philippine contingent remains dedicated and ready for their mission to help the people of Turkey and all the victims of this tragic earthquake,” OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said, noting that their immediate deployment is within the international standard of deploying a response team within 48 hours of an incident.
“Our team in Turkey is well coordinated with the Turkish government and with our embassy officials... ensuring the adherence to international standards,” Nepomuceno said.
Repatriation
In another development, the Philippine embassy in Turkey is arranging for the immediate repatriation of the remains of the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) whose body was pulled out of the rubble in one of the structures collapsed by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the country.
In a post on Facebook yesterday, the Philippine embassy said the repatriation of Wilma Abulad Tezcan was requested by her daughter and granted consent by her Turkish husband.
“For our kababayan married to a Turkish national, her family in the Philippines is seeking consent from her husband, regarding the treatment of her human remains,” the embassy post read.
The Philippine embassy remains open for any and all information on the fate of Filipinos in Turkey, which may be sent via telephone and WhatApp (+905345772344, via email at ankara@dfa.gov.ph and Facebook at www.facebook.com/PHinTurkey
“We encourage all of our affected kababayans to continue reaching out to the embassy and our Filipino coordinators. This will ensure that rescue runs and sweeps are efficient and that all will have the best chance to transfer to safe destinations,” the embassy said.
‘Bayanihan’
At the same time, rescue, relief and evacuation efforts continued in southeast Turkey as more than 20,000 people have so far been reported killed by the 7.8 magnitude and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that rocked the country and neighboring Syria in a span of 12 hours.
In this regard, the Philippine embassy noted offers of spontaneous assistance, such as toiletries, clothes and food and will continue to mobilize all interested parties.
“The spirit of bayanihan is truly moving here in Turkey, as Filipino communities in Ankara, Istanbul and beyond continue to pour in support for their fellow compatriots that have been successfully evacuated to the Turkish capital,” the embassy said in a statement.
“The team successfully evacuated four families from the city of Gaziantep, more than 200 km from previous operations in Antakya, Hatay. Sprinter buses transported the distressed Filipinos roughly 700 km for shelter in the Turkish capital of Ankara,” it added, noting the guidance the Philippine team has been getting from the ambassador.
However, among the Filipinos in Gaziantep who chose to stay, some had suggested that since their situation was good and safe, the embassy give their share of relief goods to those who need them the most.
PRC aid
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is sending $200,000 (about P11 million) to Turkey and Syria to support relief and rescue operations for the victims of the strong tremors that devastated the two countries.
PRC chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said the PRC is sending as its donation $100,000 (about P550,000) each for Turkey and Syria.
The PRC also joined a worldwide appeal for donations initiated by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Socieities (FRC).
“Speaking for the entire PRC organizations, we are devastated to learn of the deadly earthquake that hit Turkiye and Syria. We send our thoughts and support to both countrie and we send our condolences to those who have lost loved ones,” Gordon said.
He said the PRC is in communication with its Turkish and Syrian counterparts under the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
He noted that the PRC and the Turkish Red Crescent Society have always had special relations.
The Turkish Red Crescent Society was the first to respond with relief aid and a rescue team when Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the Philippines in 2013.
Donations
Aside from the PRC financial commitment, Gordon has been calling personal friends, PRC board members and partner companies to provide assistance for “our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria.”
The Turkish embassy in the Philippines indicated its preference to receive donations in the form of medical devices, medications and medical consumables.
The PRC was designated by the Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Eyren Akyol as a collection point for these donations.
Gordon encouraged those who intend to donate to contact the following to coordinate drop off of donations from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday: Cebu, Phlippine Red Cross Cebu Chapter, Fuente Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City through Maria Vera de Jesus through globe nos. 09163085069; Philippine Red Cross Lapu-Lapu/Cordova chapter Doors 4 and 5 Hoopsdome building, Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City 6015 through Cyril Dwigth Alegado with Nos. 09173200693 or cyril.alegado@redcross.org.ph; National Capital Region-Philippine Red Cross Logistics and Multipurpose Center at 80 Apo St., Barangka Ilaya, Mandaluyong City 1550 through Shariane Presilda with Nos. 09178446025; Shervi Mae Corpuz with Nos. 09178348378 and Ma. Rizza Genil with Nos. 091751206343 and emergencyappeal@redcross.org.ph.
For a list of the medical devices, medications and medical consumables donations that can be made through the PRC, go to https://drive.google.com/drive/u/O/folders/1rl8xiV7Hgqui9bb3BTZeVpTOXYDFJGqS. — Cecille Suerte Felipe