MMDA sends 2 humanitarian teams to 'Ineng'-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday deployed two humanitarian teams to Ilocos province to assist those affected by typhoon 'Ineng.'

 

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said that the two teams composed of well-trained MMDA personnel will help in the relief and clearing operations in areas severely affected by the typhoon.

 

"They will clean the schools affected, particularly in Ilocos Norte and will either cut or prune fallen trees," Tolentino said. 

 

"The capabilities of these personnel, mostly from the Public Safety Division and Road Emergency Group, are proven and tested as they have been on similar missions before in Visayas and Mindanao," he added. 

 

The teams are equipped with appropriate clearing implements such as chainsaws, rescue boats, tents, medical kits and other hand tools needed for the operations.  

 

The team members will be working under the supervision of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council which reported more than 75,000 persons in 221 flooded barangays or villages. 

 

In recent years, the MMDA has also sent agency personnel to various towns in Bulacan and several provinces in Mindanao such as Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, to help local government units in rescue, relief, clearing and cleanup operations after they were severely damaged by natural disasters.  

 

Last May, the MMDA also dispatched a similar rescue team to Kathmandu, Nepal in the aftermath of an earthquake.

 

In November 2012, the MMDA formed its Rescue Battalion, a unit composed of personnel specially trained and equipped to respond immediately to major disasters and calamities within Metro Manila and nearby provinces.