Manila, April 1 -- The Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) departed early Tuesday morning from Villamor Air Base, Pasay City via Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft to provide assistance to communities in Myanmar still reeling from the effects of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28.

Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Office of Civil Defense administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno and Philippine Air Force (PAF) commander Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura led the send-off ceremonies.

"The Philippine contingent, comprising 91 members and headed by Air Force Lt. Col. Erwen Diploma, includes urban search and rescue teams from the Philippine Army, PAF, Bureau of Fire Protection, Metropolitan Manila Development ...