U.S. crisis team to assist PH disaster efforts —Teodoro

GOV’T DISASTER RESPONSE. Rescue teams from the 525th Combat Engineer Battalion of the Philippine Army wade through knee-deep floods to rescue affected families and individuals due to flooding in Quezon City and Marikina brought by monsoon rains on Monday (July 21, 2025). In a video message on Tuesday (July 22), Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the USINDOPACOM will deploy its crisis action teams to aid in the relief operations across the country. (Photo courtesy: Philippine Army)

By Brian Campued

The United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) has ordered the deployment of its crisis action team to the Philippines to support ongoing rescue and relief operations in various areas affected by heavy to torrential rains caused by the southwest monsoon and recent tropical cyclone.

This has been confirmed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in a video message posted by the Presidential Communications Office Tuesday night.

According to Teodoro, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and USINDOPACOM Commander, Adm. Samuel Paparo, have agreed to combine response efforts in calamity-hit areas.

“Nagkasundo po si General Brawner at si Admiral Paparo, batay po sa pag-uusap namin ni [U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth] at ng ating Pangulo (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) na magde-deploy ng crisis action team ang USINDOPACOM, kaalinsabay ng ating Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

“Patuloy itong pag-uugnayan ng dalawang armed forces—ng Estados Unidos at ng Republika ng Pilipinas—at ng iba pang mga kaalyado nating nasyon upang sa ganoon ay makapaghatid ng tulong sa mga nangangailangan at makapagsagip ng buhay,” he added.

The DND chief also said that the air assets of the AFP and USINDOPACOM are also ready to be mobilized anytime for disaster response efforts.

Brawner earlier ordered the activation of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country as “key hubs for humanitarian assistance” in close coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“These hubs will serve as staging areas for prepositioning rescue equipment and consolidating relief goods,” the AFP chief said, stressing that the activation of EDCA sites will allow efficient and timely delivery of assistance to displaced and affected families.

Brawner likewise assured that the AFP is working closely with the USINDOPACOM “to ensure seamless interoperability as we utilize these shared facilities, transport, and airlift assets in this mission.”

-jpv

Popular

PBBM hails dedication to public service of 2025 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos awardees

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “They remind us that integrity and excellence must be at the heart of the work that we all do.” Amid the various...

Palace supports calls for ICI empowerment

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “Nararamdaman po ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon ang nararamdaman ng mga businessman kaya po patuloy ang ginagawang pag-iimbestiga, at patuloy ang...

PBBM encourages Filipinos to remain prepared for disasters

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “Higit sa pagbangon o pagresponde, mas mahalaga ang maging handa.” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of disaster preparedness and...

DHSUD expedites 2nd ‘Bayanihan Village’ for Cebu quake victims

By Brian Campued Consistent with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide safer and more comfortable refuge for the residents displaced by...