VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – Nineteen disaster responders from Apayao have completed the Training for Instructors (TFI) on Incident Command System (ICS) and other Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) courses, strengthening the province’s ability to handle emergencies.
Organized by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division in partnership with the Office of the Civil Defense–Cordillera, the five-day training from February 25 to March 1 was held at Metro Vigan Fiesta Garden hotel in Ilocos Sur.
The newly trained ICS instructors come from Provincial DRRM Council (PDRRMC), local government units of Apayao, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, and the Provincial Department of Health Office.
They are now equipped to train and develop future responders in ICS and DRRM in the province and beyond.
TFI is the final stage of the ICS ladderized courses, following Basic ICS, Integrated Planning, Position Course Training, and All-Hazard Incident Management Training. Only those who have completed all prerequisites are eligible for this instructor – level certification. ICS is a structured approach to disaster response that highlights the safety of responders, effective resource management, and coordinated tactical operations during crises.
According to Training Coordinator Josephine Ulayan of PDRRMD, the newly trained cadres will be instrumental in scaling up disaster preparedness efforts in the province and the Cordillera Region. With these 19 new ICS multipliers, the province now has a stronger pool of experts capable of conducting DRRM training at local and national levels. By Michelle Acantilado
