Bontoc, Mountain Province – To enhance the capabilities, knowledge, and attitude of the MDRRMC members in managing disaster events and incidents, and to minimize slip-ups during emergency operations in the municipality, a Basic Incident Command System (ICS) training was conducted on March 3 -5, 2020.
The three-day Basic ICS training was spearheaded by the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in partnership with the Office of the Civil Defense –Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR)
ICS is a standardized on-site management system designed to enable effective, efficient incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure. It is a standardized hierarchical structure that allows for a cooperative response by multiple agencies.
The Basic ICS training involved eight modules with the following topics: Introduction to ICS, ICS Organization and Staffing, ICS Incident Facilities, Managing Planned Events and Incidents, Incident/ Event Assessment and Management by Objectives, Organizing and Managing Resources, Incident and Event Planning, and Transfer of Command, Demobilization, and Closeout.
According to MDRRM Officer Johanna Padaen, the conduct of the ICS training was realized following the recommendation of the OCD-CAR Team during the 2nd Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) in June 2019, where the municipality of Bontoc was one of the pilot areas, to enhance the knowledge and skills of the MDRRMC members on managing an event and incident.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey recognizing the importance of the training in disaster prevention, preparedness, management, and response assured the OCD- CAR Team that the training will be conducted for the Calendar Year 2020. Thus, Basic ICS Training was conducted.
Padaen added that the participants of the Basic ICS are recommended for the Integrated Planning Course on ICS (ICS II) scheduled on March 23 – 27 this year.
Expert cadres of the Cordillera ICS facilitated and lectured during the training namely: Mankayan MDRRM Officer Mateo Estalin Jr., Vanessa Sito from the Cordillera Incident Management Team, Bontoc MDRRM Officer Johanna Padaen, and Meilynne Shalom Ayan, a staff of the Bontoc MDRRMO.
By Alpine L. Killa
