Albay sends 80-person humanitarian team to Bohol and Cebu

Newsdig coverage by Cbanga360.net

The provincial government of Albay and Bicol Office of Civil Defense based in Legazpi city mounts a humanitarian team for the earthquake ravaged residents of the provinces of Bohol and Cebu in Central Visayas.

The Visayan provinces was hard hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that shaked its cities and towns on Tuesday morning.

The team is composed of search and rescue units from the Bureau of Fire Protection and Tactical Operations Group 5 of the Philippine Air Force.

Joining the group is a health team from the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital and the Provincial Health Office.

A water sanitation team from the Provincial Engineering Office and the PHO sanitation personnel completes the support group.

It is the 10th humanitarian mission of the group. Previous missions served were in Cagayan, Isabela, Catanduanes, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental as well as in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Metro Manila.

The first batch of volunteers left for Bohol province Wednesday on a Navy ship. The second batch composed of technical personnel flew by domestic plane to Tagbilaran city. Aside from rescue and medical equipment, the team has a water-purifying machine.

“These are experts and skilled in this field of missionary work from the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Monitoring Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, PHO-Albay Health and Emergency Monitoring team, Department of Health-Bicol regional office and the Team Armed Forces of the Philippines,” according to Governor Joey Salceda.

The mission will probably last up to several weeks in these areas, depending on the need.

“This is part of the payback of Albay and Bicol to all that helped them when they needed assistance. Most of all, this is part of the actual laboratory work of the team, as part of their constant practice and application of their knowledge and skills.

When the teams come back to the province, what they would learned in helping other areas will certainly help them in times of necessity,” Salceda stressed. (from PNA report)

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