By Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 03/17/2011 1:19 AM | Updated as of 03/17/2011 1:19 AM
MANILA, Philippines – A 46-man Filipino search-and-rescue team is all set to leave Friday for Japan to help in the rescue efforts along the devastated towns of Fukushima, Iwate, and Sendai.
They came from the most efficient rescue units in the country from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Makati Rescuem and Subic Bay Rescue Squad.
In a briefing held Wednesday at the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) warned the contingent that they may be contaminated with radioactive material.
Kristine Romallosa of the PNRI Radiation Protection Services said, "there is a possibility pagpunta niyo doon ma-contaminate kayo, iyung kamay niyo magkakaroon ng radioactive material, pwede niyo ma-ingest iyun."
Some rescue members became apprehensive because of the threat.
"Hindi maalis yung takot eh lalo nat hindi naming alam kung ano ang talagang sitwasyon doon," said SBMA Rescue Squad member Eliseo Yco.
Another SBMA squad member, Arnel Tolero, thought of his family when asked about the possibility of him being contaminated with radioactive material.
"Simula naman na nag-rescue ako sinabi ko naman sa kanila na maging handa sila sa anumang mangyayari," he said.
Lt. Col. Randy Fajilagutan, meanwhile, felt it would be an honor to represent the country. "Pinag-usapan ito para sa bayan..nakasalalay dito ang bandila natin."
To protect the rescue unit members, a protective suit donated by Canada was introduced in the briefing.
The C4 Saratoga Hammer Suit, a Level B radiation suit, comes with a purifying respirator and a C4 canister that will filter the air containing radioactive material.
They will also be equipped with a dosage meter and a contamination meter that will alert them about the radiation level in their surroundings and their bodies.
Aside from radiation, food and water will also be a problem during their operations, especially since the cities they will be going into lacking resources after being devastated by the strong earthquake and tsunami.
NDRRMC chief Benito Ramos said the the team will bring along food and other basic necessities that will last for at least 20 days.
The team is expected to be in Japan for up to 2 weeks.
The remaining concern right now is the landing area for the C-130 aircraft that will transport the team.
As of Wednesday night, no clear flight path has been established yet by the Philippine Air Force since it has no formal information from the governments of either Japan or the Philippines on where it will be allowed to land.
The team is also concerned about the amount of fuel they would need since there is a high possibility that aviation fuel would not be available in the area.
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