Twenty-one DA-CAR technical personnel based in the regional and provincial offices completed the Basic Incident Command System (ICS) Training Course at the DA-BFAR Training Center, Alaminos, Pangasinan recently.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-CAR through its Capacity Building and Training Section provided technical assistance and coordinated with the ICS Cadres (pool of experts) from the OCD-CAR, TOGI Philippine Air Force, Coast Guard North Western Luzon, and Cordillera Incident Management Team (IMT). Trainers of the Basic ICS were TSG Jake Belino (Tactical Operations Group 1, Philippine Air Force), CG PO1 Peter Paul Ngalew (Philippine Coast Guard), Mr. Mike Kenneth Piluden (Philippine Public Safety College), and Ms. Arianie Christie Atolba of OCD-CAR.
The Basic ICS Training is the first level of the ladderized ICS Training which is part of the agency’s efforts to capacitate staff assigned to their regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and those who go on the field in the aftermath of hazards. Under the DA-CAR, the ICS is aimed to be understood and applied in the ICS management approach for disaster response in the agriculture sector.
ICS was among the mechanisms institutionalized to properly manage the disaster consequences and to reduce disaster risks in the country following the enactment of the Republic Act 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010. Specifically, the ICS is a “standard, on-scene and all-hazard incident management concept introduced by the US Forest Service that can be used by all response groups. Moreover, it has been proven effective in the management of potential and actual disaster consequences.
During the training, the participants learned about the foundational concepts and principles of ICS in any disaster situation. Eight modules were discussed namely: Introduction to ICS; ICS Organization and Staffing; ICS 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. Group exercises and workshops followed after every module with the Incident Action Plan as the final group output. Pre- and post-diagnostic tests were also administered to the participants as part of the overall training assessment.
DA-CAR DRRM Officer Lito Mocati thanked the OCD-CAR and ICS Cadres for sharing their learnings and expertise adding that the participants can apply the ICS not only in their line of work but in their everyday lives whenever there are planned events or incidents. He looks forward to the second level of the ICS training.
“I appreciate the concepts and lessons learned which I can definitely apply in the laboratory I am handling,” added Ms. Jenika Lou Javier of the Integrated Laboratory Division.
The ICS Cadres also congratulated the participants for completing the course while noting that the challenge does end after the training.
“The challenge doesn’t stop here. How can we say that we are successful in this training? To consider it successful is for you to learn and apply it when the time comes or to learn and share it with others,” underscored Mr. Piluden.
The activity was conducted by the DA-CAR DRRM Office in coordination with the OCD-CAR Capacity Building and Training Section. By JBAgrifino
