PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte – Some 42 personnel from select government agencies of Apayao joined the three-day basic Incident Command System (ICS) training to improve their skills in responding and managing incidents.
For the past two years, the Apayao has been conferred the Gawad Kalasag Seal by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for its proven emergency response efficiency in protecting yApayaos during disasters.
This training, along with the previously conducted others, will once again bolster the efforts of the provincial government to make its communities more resilient.
The ICS is a standard on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept that all response groups can use when disasters or calamities strike, mitigating possible negative impacts and addressing problems with immediacy.
Organized by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (PDRRMD) with technical assistance from the Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera (OCD-CAR), this three-day training held from August 13-15 at Nest Resort, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, prepare participants to be an effective members of the Incident Management Team (IMT) that respond and manage man made and natural incidents.
The training likewise equips participants with important knowledge on applying general concepts and principles of the ICS from a managerial perspective.
Among the speakers were Julius Maguiwe from Philippine Coast Guard, Dhenver Lagasi from Sagada Servs, Joey Awilan from Philippine National Police, and a retired firefighter Andres Galapia.
All resource persons are ICS Cadres – a group of individuals who completed the National Training of Trainers on ICS, didactic, and practicum, and are eligible to teach the general concepts and principles of ICS.
“This is just the first level of the many ICS trainings that you have to go through,” said Lagasi during the course overview. “In this course matututunan natin kung paano mag manage ng insidente, as quick responders sa site and managers sa operation center. This is the beginning of your journey as incident managers, and maybe even our cadres in the future,” Lagasi added.
The participants will have to finish the required eight modules in order to finish the course. The training includes: introduction to ICS, organization and staffing, ICS facilities, managing incidents and events, incident assessment and objectives, managing resources, incident and event planning, as well as transfer of command, demobilization, and close out.
“I hope that through this training, ay makakatulong tayo sa pag-address at pag-mitigate ng impact ng future calamities sa probinsiya. Hindi man natin maiwasan, but when disaster arises, we can apply the concepts that we learned here,” said LDRRMO Josephine Ulayan.
The participants are employees of the support agencies and stakeholders of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council such as provincial government, local government units, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Department of Social Welfare and Development. By Jess Christley Marquez
