Cebu city: The Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the Negros Island Region have mobilized personnel to Cebu to assist in disaster response operations following Tuesday's magnitude 6.9 earthquake that left a trail of devastation in Bogo City and other areas. Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, commander of the Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, said initial troops from the Joint Task Group-Cebu (JTG-C) were deployed on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Brig. Gen. Jumawan stated, "The JTG-C is under our operational control and we have sent troops from the 14th Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion yesterday." Additionally, one Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) team from the 53rd Engineering Brigade was also deployed. Jumawan mentioned that more personnel from battalions under the brigade in Negros Oriental are scheduled to depart either Thursday evening or Friday morning, assuring that the Army's troop deployment to Cebu will not hamper anti-terrorist operations in Negros.
The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) confirmed the mobilization of 38 personnel from its Provincial Mobile Force Company. Lt. Stephen Polinar, NOrPPO spokesperson, assured that regular police operations will continue across the province. In addition, the Philippine Coast Guard District Southern Visayas (PCGDSV) dispatched 20 emergency response personnel to Cebu. Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, commander of the Coast Guard Negros Oriental Station, noted that the deployed personnel are from the CG stations in the Negros Island Region and are fully trained in emergency response and disaster relief.
Meanwhile, a composite team from the National Capital Region, led by the private power firm First Gen-Energy Development Corporation, has also been deployed to Bogo City. The team arrived Thursday aboard an Air Force C-130 aircraft at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Team leader Dr. Ted Esguerra highlighted their team as a representation of government and private sector partnership working together to respond to emergencies. The multi-agency group includes doctors, nurses, emergency management technicians, and responders from the First Gen-EDC, Makati Rescue, REACT, MAKITA Rescue Tools, Wilderness Search and Rescue Philippines, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), among others.
