BAGUIO CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) here conducted a three-day training to address operational challenges such as lack of knowledge on proper care and protection in handling the retrieved bodies and missing persons during disaster.
“The training aims to equip Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs), the personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the DILG with general knowledge and understanding of the policies and guidelines in handling deceased and missing persons and their bereaved families”, said DRRMO focal Ralph Kevin Brett of DILG-CAR.
He underscored that the government plays a fundamental role in the standardization of tasks in the recovery, handling, identification and final disposal of corpses, as well as handling of missing persons and grieving relatives while ensuring compliance with legal regulations and respecting the dignity of deceased and their families, in accordance with their cultural and religious beliefs.
It can be recalled that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) issued Memorandum Circular No. 19 in 2016, which provides the policies, guidelines, plans and implementation procedures pertaining to all aspects of DRRM including the Management of the Dead and Missing Persons (MDM).
The DILG is the lead agency in the MDM. It has the prime responsibility in planning, monitoring and evaluation of MDM implementation and coordinating with the local government units (LGUs) and other concerned agencies in disaster victim identification, disposition of the dead, management of missing persons and management of the bereaved families.
Further, the participants were also briefed on Incident Command System (ICS) aimed toward minimizing damage to property and possible loss of lives during disaster response operations.
ICS is a standard on scene incident management concept that can be used by all response teams. It enables users to adopt an integrated organizational structure to respond and empower communities and make them more resilient. (With a report from Danilo Azarcon, Jr) PMTG/DILG-CAR
