PBBM orders aid for Myanmar quake victims, PH deploys humanitarian contingent

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to mobilize humanitarian aid for Myanmar following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that claimed over 2,000 lives.

The Philippines has deployed a 91-person Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PHIAC) to assist in the quake's aftermath.

Of the deployed personnel, 58 members arrived in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, via two C-130 planes, with the remaining 33 scheduled for transport on April 2, 2025.

Of the initial arrivals, 32 are part of the World Health Organization (WHO)-certified Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT).

The remaining team members are from the Bureau of Fire Protection's Urban Search and Rescue Unit and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Disaster Response Unit.

This is the second time the Philippines is deploying an emergency medical team abroad, with the first being for the Turkey earthquake response.

Some members who responded to the Turkey earthquake were included in the Myanmar mission for combined experience.

The team will provide trauma care, life support, pharmaceutical services, infectious disease isolation, and patient referrals during their two-week deployment.

Two additional teams are on standby for resupply or rotation to avoid overstretching the volunteers.

The DFA is coordinating the potential repatriation of four missing Filipinos in Myanmar.