LAOAG CITY – Local front-liners in the province of Ilocos Norte got a capability boost during a multinational joint exercise on humanitarian assistance and disaster response drill at Camp Cape Bojeador in Burgos town on Sunday.
With the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine National Police along with counterparts from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), local front liners were treated to various exercises aimed at saving more lives during emergencies caused by disasters and calamities.
The exercises aimed to save lives, reduce suffering, and resolve emergencies during natural disasters through effective coordination, communication, and cooperation with partners in disaster response, said Ryan Rollaine Simon, president of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers of Ilocos Norte.
Simon thanked their counterparts for building their knowledge and skills in emergency response.
“This is a big help for us as we enhance our capabilities during disaster response,” Simon added.
The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capability demonstration was the highlight of the training of all frontline agencies in the government particularly on air and boat operations during the occurrence of heavy flooding and landslides caused by weather disturbances and strong earthquakes while rescuing and transporting victims to the hospital using government’s water and air assets.
Combined forces from the USMC and JGSDF along with participating agencies composed of uniformed services from the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Marine reservists, and civilian volunteers from the provincial and municipal disaster risk reduction and management councils participated in various enhancement and skills development training on emergency response, small boat operations for rescue and relief transport, engineering capability development for rapid infrastructure recovery, and supply management during disaster relief operations.
They were also given defense training on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear disasters.
Acting regional director Carmelita Laverinto said in a media interview on Sunday that the exercise went well involving the military and the community.
“As the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, we came here to support and observe their activities if they have executed well the exercise. I think our local frontliners have shown their best,” she said as she underscored the important role of local frontliners in disaster response.
In an interview, Brig. Gen. Vince Blanco, commander of the 4th Marine Brigade stationed in Burgos town said that the HADR demonstration was meant to capacitate local DRRMOs through a whole of nation approach with the assistance of foreign entities.
“You know the magnitude of typhoons when they strike in the Philippines. That is why we have the provincial and municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices but sometimes or most often than not, it is not enough, so the government asked for a whole of government approach wherein everybody counts to assist. Sometimes, it is not even enough so we call on our allies to assist us also,” Blanco said. (PNA)