RP to send mercy team to Pakistan

Malacañang will send a humanitarian team to Pakistan to help in relief and rescue efforts for tens of thousands of victims of the earthquake that struck South Asia last Saturday.

"The usual assistance we extend to countries who experience this kind of tragedy is the sending of a humanitarian team," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said yesterday, adding that details would be announced later.

Bunye appealed to the public, as well as private institutions, for donations that can help the victims and contribute to the speedy recovery of affected communities.

Other countries have also pledged aid and other forms of assistance to the victims of the earthquake, which shook parts of India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where more than 30,000 people were killed.

The earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, flattened houses and swept away whole villages. Thousands were also confirmed dead in Kashmir, the Himalayan territory that is the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan, where the earthquake was centered.

Bunye reiterated the Philippines’ condolences to the countries whose citizens lost their lives in the disaster. He added that the Philippines has borne the pain resulting from natural disasters and will not hesitate to assuage the anguish of other countries.

President Arroyo earlier said the Philippines "shared the grief and pain" of the victims.

"We would like to extend our sympathies to nations and peoples affected by this sudden tragedy. The entire nation is one in prayer for their speedy recovery from this unfortunate event," Bunye said.

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., prior to giving his message during the investiture ceremonies for the new president of the University of Luzon in Dagupan City in Pangasinan yesterday, asked guests to observe a minute of silence and to pray for those who died in the earthquake.

He recalled the July 16, 1990 earthquake that affected most parts of northern Luzon. The worst-hit were the cities of Dagupan, Baguio and Cabanatuan.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin said the Philippines "stands ready to provide our Pakistani, Afghan and Indian brethren any humanitarian assistance they may seek, and prays for the quick recovery of these nations from this great tragedy."

Philippine embassy in Islamabad Charge d’Affaires Maria Agnes Cervantes reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that no Filipino died or was injured in the earthquake.

She said two Filipino nationals escaped unhurt and have been accounted for when the 11-story Margalla Towers residential building in Islamabad collapsed.

The report did not indicate if the two Filipino nationals, identified as Gina Oclarit and Janes Lapus, are overseas Filipino workers.

Cervantes said the two women were staying at the Margalla Towers when the earthquake struck, and were able to escape the building before it collapsed.

Oclarit is currently at the embassy while Lapus is in contact with embassy personnel. Lapus has been asked to go to the embassy should she require further assistance.

Cervantes also reported that embassy personnel and their families are now staying at the embassy, which is trying to contact Filipinos who may be staying in other areas in Pakistan affected by the earthquake.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Red Cross chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said in a statement that the PNRC stands ready to send search and rescue experts to Pakistan to aid survivors.

He informed the Red Cross South Asia regional delegation and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, Switzerland that three emergency search and rescue teams consisting of 14 PNRC staff — all highly trained in collapsed structure rescue — are ready to fly anytime to Pakistan to provide assistance.

"As we commiserate with the earthquake victims, we are showing the world that we are a country that does not just ask for aid when disasters strike us. We are also a caring nation ready to give out whatever we have when other nations need us," Gordon said.

The PNRC teams will bring with them newly acquired rescue equipment, including heavy steel cutters, "jaws of life," audio search, spreaders and search cameras.

Gordon said an emergency medical team with Muslim nurses is also on standby should the Red Cross South Asia request it.

The PNRC has been actively providing assistance to disaster victims in the Philippines and in other countries. It started to become a donor society when it sent monetary assistance to victims of the tsunami that hit South and Southeast Asia in December last year and to victims of hurricane "Katrina" in the United States last month.

Sympathies from around the globe poured in for the victims, with United Nations chief Kofi Annan expressing deep sadness at the death and destruction the earthquake caused.

The world body has rushed an emergency team to Pakistan. The eight-member UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team was expected to arrive in Islamabad early Sunday and will assist with ongoing assessment and coordination work, in response to a request made by the government of Pakistan, the UN said.

The United States, along with other economic superpowers, vowed to immediately send help to the victims. — Aurea Calica, Cesar Ramirez, Pia Lee-Brago