LUNA, Apayao – Thirty-one personnel from Apayao successfully completed the Basic Incident Command System (BICS) Training Course held from May 27 to 29, 2025, at Selah Vie Resort Hotel in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur.
This training was organized by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (PDRRMD) of Apayao in partnership with the Office of Civil Defense–Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD–CAR).
The three-day training aimed to strengthen Apayao’s disaster response capability by introducing participants to the Incident Command System (ICS) a standardized approach for managing emergencies and planned events through a clear chain of command and coordination.
Participants included representatives from the provincial government, including three department heads and members of the Provincial DRRM Council. Also present were personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Municipal DRRM Council members, hospital staff from Apayao’s five district hospitals, and representatives from the Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center and Conner District Hospital, also took part in the training.
Jaren Endrei Nebab, one of the participants, shared his key takeaway from the course. “Nasursurok nu kasano ag-manage ken agplano nu adda iti emergency ken incident,” he said.
He added, “Nu adda bagyo, ammok ti aramiden kas emergency responder. Haan laeng a bagyo ti pag-aplikaran na uray iti dadakkel a events mabalin.”
The Basic ICS course is the foundational level in a four-tier DRRM training framework that includes the Integrated Planning Course, All Positions Course, and All-Hazard Incident Management Team Training. Those who complete all four may eventually qualify for the Training for Instructors (TFI) program.
OCD–CAR Regional Director Albert Mogol (Ret.) lauded the participants for their commitment to building disaster resilience as this reflects the continuing efforts to institutionalize emergency management practices and develop a competent, ready, and professional local response network. By Michelle Acantilado
