This handout photo taken and released on July 27, 2022 by the Mountain Province Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office shows a damaged vehicle caused by a landslide along Halsema Highway in the municipality of Bontoc, Mountain Province, after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the northern Philippines. (Photo by Handout / Mountain Province Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Japan has offered to extend assistance to the Philippines following the powerful earthquake that hit parts of the country, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) disclosed Thursday.
Assistant Secretary Bernardo Alejandro IV said the Department of Foreign Affairs is heading the people international humanitarian assistance cluster which is tasked to monitor offers of assistance from other countries.
“So far we have received offers of assistance from Japan, specifically for search, rescue, retrieval and other emergency supplies,” Alejandro said in a situation briefing in Abra attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko earlier offered prayers following the magnitude 7.0 quake in parts of the country, particularly Abra province which was the epicenter of the quake.
“We are praying for the safety of everyone following the [7.0] magnitude [earthquake], especially the residents of Abra, and nearby provinces,” he said.
READ: Prayers pour in after powerful Abra earthquake