MARAWI CITY (PIA ) — Lanao del Sur further strengthened its disaster response capacity with its first-ever bomb drill to enhance preparedness and response to human-induced threats. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) organized the bomb drill on November 20 involving 34 agencies from the provincial government and Marawi City.
Provincial DRRM Officer Shaminoden Sambitory highlighted the importance of the drill, noting that it was particularly timely given the proximity to the anniversary of the bombing incident at the MSU Marawi campus in December of the previous year. He stressed that the simulation served as a preparedness exercise and a response drill, ensuring that all members of the response cluster are ready to act swiftly and effectively if a similar crisis occurs.
“This simulation exercise demonstrated the coordination and response mechanisms among the various response clusters within the province and Marawi City. When we refer to ‘response clusters,’ we are not talking only about uniformed personnel. It includes all government offices and agencies that have the capacity to respond to any incident or disaster. For example, hospitals and other agencies or offices equipped to handle emergencies and provide assistance during such incidents in the province,” Sambitory stated.
Since the first drill was in the city’s Ground Zero, Sambitory said the next exercise would be held on the city’s streets to test responders’ reactions to a scenario in an urban setting. He also shared that upcoming Local DRRM Officers’ meetings will include lectures on ordnance handling and managing bombing incidents effectively.
“Our plan moving forward is to address the needs of our municipalities too. We will visit these municipalities to capacitate their component barangays because, in a real scenario, the first responders in such incidents are typically those from the barangays. It is crucial that they receive proper training to respond to these situations,” Sambitory added. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
