Given that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is not properly equipped to carry out HA/DR missions with the light utility helicopters that it has and handful of transport aircraft, it would be advisable that whenever supertyphoons are coming into the country the Philippine government should immediately instruct the DND/AFP to set up coordinative mechanisms and actions with the US military to allow for the deployment of medium to heavy lift helicopters PRIOR to the arrival of the typhoon and not after. After all there is the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty and Mutual Defense Board mechanisms that can be utilized for such arrangements. It is crucial that the response of the PH government is done quickly and timely especially in the first 24 hours following the typhoon and HA/DR and AFP personnel may be quickly transported around the affected regions using these larger American aircraft. If need be, the PH government may shoulder the lodging and even peripheral costs of such deployments of its ally to avoid accusations of dependency. Such deployments would be temporary and during the duration of the crisis and up until the PAF acquires its own heavy lift helicopter capability by the next decade. The important thing is that these units and capabilities are available in country BEFORE the typhoon hits.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 10:34:34 +0000
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