Laoag City—The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), in cooperation with the Department of National Defense (DND) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), conducted the Incident Command System (ICS) Executive Course on July 10, 2018, at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium.
Local chief executives and department heads of the provincial government attended the one-day training together with representatives from the academe. This was to make the ICS more comprehensive and responsive to different agencies, according to Engr. Pedro S. Agcaoili, officer in charge of the Provincial Resiliency Office.
“Talagang napakaganda ng naidulot ngRepublic Act 10121 o Philippine Disaster Risk and Management Act dahil napakaaktibo na ng mga agency at local government unit na pinangungunahan ng disaster management ng lugar natin,” Mr. Agcaoili stated.
Topics comprising the training included the key principles of ICS, composition and functions of each officer, and the purpose of ICS facilities.
Police Supt. Ferdinand Z. de Asis of San Carlos City Police Station in Pangasinan, who was one of the resource speakers, also emphasized the importance of the ICS to local government units.
“This is a very simple course, but you have a very important role to play because you are the responsible officials. You will not be the one to respond to an incident. [We designed this] executive course for you as the responsible officials. Ang Incident Command System (ICS) ang gagawin nating gabay upang ang mga utos mula sa mga kinauukulan ay mabigyan ng angkop na pagsasagawa dahil ang bawat isa ay may tungkulin na dapat gampanan,” Mr. De Asis added.
He also noted that Ilocos Norte will host the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill this August 16, 2018, thus stressing the importance of the local executive, chief of police, and Risk Reduction Management Officer during times of disaster.
“Sa ganitong paraan, makakabuo na sila ng plano na angkop doon sa komunidad kabilang ang bawat insidente na tutugunan ng planong ito,” he said. (Zhermaine B. Bacud)