Lingayen, Pangasinan—OFW [overseas Filipino workers] Family Circle (OFC) leaders and representatives in Ilocos Region are now capable in responding and providing first line assistance in case of emergency and disaster after they went through an intensive four-day training on water safety search and rescue (WASAR) held on April 10-13, 2019 at Narciso Sports Complex, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), headed by Maricar D. Palang, Argie B. Gattoc and WASAR trainers Mario R. Lopez, Rigor C. Demoral and Jimmy M. Pastor, acted as learning service providers on the aforementioned training.
WASAR training is the second part of the “Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness” that OFC leaders need to undergo to empower them to respond in their areas in times of calamities.
The first part was the Disaster Preparedness, Risk Management and First Aid or Basic Life Support-CPR Training held on October 19-20, 2018 on the same venue.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is mandated to be responsive to the needs of the Overseas Filipino Workers and their families. The region is prone to heavy flooding, specifically in the low-lying areas of Pangasinan. Upland areas like those in La Union and Ilocos Norte are prone to landslides and soil erosion while coastal areas are likely to experience storm surges. This is mainly the reason why OWWA Regional Welfare Office I conceptualized this training for its OFC leaders, to capacitate them on Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness and for them to cascade to their members.
During the course of the training, participants were given basic swimming lessons for non-swimmers and beginners and advance swimming lessons for those who are capable to swim. They were also given series of survival knot tying demos and intensive lecture-demos on proper way of water search and rescue and survival. On last day of the training, participants had a realistic return-demo and applied what they have learned throughout the training.
At the end of the training, 17 OFC leaders/participants were given WASAR completion certificate, which means they could be accredited by the Philippine Coast Guard as water rescuers.
A total of 60 OFC leaders and representatives attended the training. All of them showed enthusiasm in the training for they are all serious in taking the responsibility as first aiders in their respective communities. Participants were all given certificate of attendance, survival kits and tokens at the end of the training.
OWWA Regional Welfare Office I hopes the participants will be able to apply their learnings as the need arises. (OWWA)