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DISASTER agencies and local security forces have
acquired new equipment that would enhance the country’s capability
to response to high-level terror assault such as chemical or nuclear
attacks.
The Canadian government on
Wednesday turned over to the defense department around 300
protective suits for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear
(CBRN) attacks.
The suits, which are worth around
274,000 Canadian dollars, can be used by disaster agencies and
security forces when such kind of attacks occur in the future.
The defense chief, Secretary
Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., said that recent developments, like the North
Korean and Pakistan nuclear (weapons) test, should serve as wake-up
call to prepare for such eventualities.
Ebdane and the Canadian
ambassador to the Philippines, Peter Sutherland, signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) during the turnover of CBRN suits in Camp
Aguinaldo.
“It’s better to have it [CBRN
suits] and not need it, than to need it and not have it,” Ebdane
told defense reporters in a chance interview following the MOU
signing.
On his part, Sutherland said:
“It’s ironic, we are tuning this over to you . . . it’s
something that we hope that you never have to use. It’s like an
insurance policy.”
Sutherland said that Canadian
authorities would train Filipino soldiers, firefighters and members
of police Special Action Force (SAF) in using the CBRN suits.
Ebdane said that the turnover of
the “protective” suits was a major step forward for the
country’s defense establishment, saying it was the first time that
a foreign country is providing an equipment and training package.
“This is actually the first . .
. that a foreign country will give us equipment while [the] training
is still ongoing,” said Ebdane. The training will be held in
Manila, Cebu and Davao.
The department’s spokesman,
Defense Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, said that recent nuclear
test in Korea has called for the two countries to further explore
defense cooperation.
The CBRN suits would remain under
the custody of the National Disaster Coordinating Council for five
years after which it would be assessed for repairs.
--Anthony Vargas
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