British troops also in PH for earthquake drills

MANILA, Philippines – British troops arrived in Manila this week to conduct training exercises on earthquake response in an urban setting like Metro Manila.

Some 40 members of the specialist British military unit 77 Brigade are here for the Philippine-British Exercise Civil Bridge. They have been meeting officials of Malacañang, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and other humanitarian organizations as part of an annual training exercise in different parts of the world.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for the British Armed Forces to work closely with a broad spectrum of experts from Government departments, non-governmental organizations and local authorities, as well as the Filipino armed forces,” said exercise commander Lieutenant Colonel Jem Blades.

The visit will culminate in a tabletop exercise to be held next week, April 28, at the British embassy involving the troops and Filipinos led by the NDRRMC. (WATCH: #TalkThursday: Metro Manila Earthquake scenarios)

Lessons of Yolanda

British Ambasaddor Asif Ahmad said the chaos in the aftermath of a major disaster can be managed if contingency plans are in place.

“Thousands of lives can be saved by effective preparation and coordination in advance of and in the aftermath of disasters. Exercise Civil Bridge is Great Britain’s continuing commitment to working together on disaster risk management, learning and sharing with each other,” the ambassador said during a reception dinner for the 77 Brigade on Tuesday, April 21.

The ambassador also highlighted one of the lessons of Super Typhoon Yolanda, the need to secure the responders and their families so they can effectively conduct relief operations without the burden of worrying about their loved ones.

“The effects of Typhoon Yolanda were a real eye opener, not just for the Philippine government but for many others across the world, including our government. We are very much aware of the importance of proper planning in mitigating the worst effects of natural disasters,” added the ambassador, who was new in Manila when Yolanda struck. 

The British military was among those who rushed to help the Philippines in the aftermath of Yolanda.

Best practices

The British troops have been discusing with the NDRRMC and other groups Manila’s existing contingency plans and sharing best practices that the Philippines can adopt to improve its ability to respond to an earthquake in an urban setting. (READ: When an earthquake hits Metro Manila)

“What we learn here in Manila will also enable us to work more effectively with others in different parts of the world,” added Blades.

The 77 Brigade is composed of  regular and reservist members from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, who provide expertise ranging from civil engineering and policing to strategic communications.

“Our teams include individuals who bring specialist knowledge of earthquakes, humanitarian relief and disaster recovery, and we hope to share our experiences, as well as learn from others,” said Blades. – Rappler.com