Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7)— The Philippine government will be deploying an 85-person contingent to Turkey to help in rescue and relief operations following the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit the country.
“We have organized a group of about 85 personnel together with some goods,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of the national tax campaign kickoff event on Tuesday.
Marcos said the Philippine team is expected to depart for Turkey on Wednesday. He added they are already in talks with Turkish authorities to organize the trip.
“Ang hinahanap sa atin ay mga blanket, mga winter clothing dahil siyempre ‘yung mga nasiraan ng bahay sa Turkey ay wala na silang matirahan,” the chief executive noted. “They’re exposed so they need all of these things.”
[Translation: They’re looking for blankets, winter clothing, because of course, those who lost their homes in Turkey have nothing. They’re exposed so they need all of these things.]
More than 5,000 people were killed while tens of thousands more were injured following the tremor that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, CNN reported, citing data from officials.
The list of those who got hurt includes two Filipinos, the Philippine Embassy in Turkey has confirmed.
Marcos said the delegation will be comprised of military personnel, engineers, and health workers.
“So lahat, ‘yung engineering, mayroon tayong pinapadalang health workers (So everything – engineering we’re also sending health workers), and of course the goods that we feel that they will need,” the president said.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Embassy in Manila thanked the government for its “generosity in our time of need.”
“This act of solidarity will surely strengthen the already solid bonds of friendship and cooperation between our countries,” it said.
