BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – In continuing efforts to strengthen disaster management at the local level, the Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR) conducted the Incident Command System (ICS) Executive Course for the Local Chief Executives (LCE).
A total of 38 LCEs and local DRRM council members from the different provinces of CAR joined the training on August 1 and 2 in Baguio City.
OCD-CAR Regional Director and Cordillera RDRRMC Chairperson Albert Mogol said the training aims to provide knowledge and understanding on the fundamental concepts and approaches of the Emergency Operations Center operationalization and management, or how it works with the incident management team and response clusters. It also provides the skills and attitude required in the application of the general concepts and principles of ICS from manager’s point of view.
Mogol highlighted the importance of the ICS as an incident management option and the key role of the LCEs as responsible officials.
With the enactment of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010, the Philippine government took a proactive approach to manage the disaster consequences and reduce disaster risks by institutionalizing various mechanisms.
ICS is one of the flagship programs of the OCD. It is a standard, on-scene, and all-hazard incident management concept that can be used by all DRRM councils, emergency management, and response agencies. It is a disaster response tool that coordinates the actions of all response groups.
Through various National DRRMC issuances, the ICS has been institutionalized as an on-scene disaster response tool of the Philippine DRRM System.
In his message, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong highlighted the importance of the ICS as he shared his experiences during his stint as a police officer in responding to disasters applying the ICS.
He said that during disasters, there is a need for one overall command system that manages and monitors the operations. The training, he said, is a very good opportunity for his fellow LCEs to learn about the ICS which they can apply in case of disasters in in their respective areas.
Apayao Governor and Regional Development Council Chairperson Elias Bulut Jr. thanked the LCEs and the DRRM officers for attending a very important initiative which is very useful and effective in managing disaster operations. He shared that he believes that a more resilient community requires better capacitated and updated leaders as knowledge of trends and technology in managing disasters not only save lives, but also results in more efficient use of limited resources.
He made special mention of the mayors of Apayao who completed the ICS Executive Course. The officials of Pudtol finished the course earlier.
The Governor said that the management of disasters in the province of Apayao is very smooth from the provincial down to the municipal and barangays as they are following protocols under their respective DRRM plans. (RMC-PIA CAR)
