AFP gets anti-nuke equipment from US

The military has new gear for its chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear unit as part of the military’s efforts in improving its capability to address disasters of such nature.

The Philippine Army’s CBRN Platoon Army Support Command received 501 pieces of CBRN response equipment, donated by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina thanked the United States government for the support, saying the military is glad to be able to start its CBRN capability development.

A little late

“It’s always better to be prepared rather than be sorry. In terms of capability development we are a little late in developing this, but thanks to our counterparts we are able to start the capability development for this,” he said during the turnover on Thursday in Camp Aguinaldo.

The CBRN response equipment arrived in the country on Sept. 6 and will be used by the CBRN platoon under the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion.

This includes personal protective equipment such as protective suits, gloves and boots; self-contained breathing apparatus, decontamination items such as waste water tank and water hoses;

Consumable support items; reusable support items like toolboxes and bolt cutters; technical and training reference materials; power supply facilities; team communications items, etc.

Refresher

This will be used by around 35 members of the CBRN platoon undergoing refresher trainings at Fort Bonifacio.

Formed in 2013, the CBRN platoon is undergoing the refresher training to supplement their previous trainings in Maryland with the United States Armed Forces last August.

Col. Gerry Amante, chief of the Army munitions control center, said the platoon is “ready to respond to any incident whether it be a nuclear, chemical biological or radiological incident.”

“We are also preparing for any eventuality with regards to calamities especially brought about by earthquakes or industrial leaks, so they will be able to respond to that as well,” Amante said.

The donated equipment is worth around $1 million while the platoon receiving it however has not yet seen any action yet.

“Let’s pray that they won’t be deployed,” Fallorina said.