Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. with Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario S. Vergeire (right) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Romando Artes check the Philippine Search and Rescue Contingent equipment during a send-off ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo Tuesday, February 7, afternoon.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the organization of the contingent to participate in the humanitarian efforts in Southern Turkey after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on February 6 toppled buildings and trapped people under rubble according to Turkey's Ministry of the Interior Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD).

A total of 312 earthquakes occurred afterward including a Magnitude of 7.6. The earthquake, one of the strongest in Turkish history, also affected Northwestern Syria.

The contingent is composed of search and rescue teams from MMDA, Subic, the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Army, the Department of Health and Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

(Photographs courtesy of Jacquiline Levita of OCD.)