Regional Emergency Response Team holds Basic ICS Training

By: Lyndee Rose Basilio

The Regional Emergency Response Team (RERT) headed by Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office No. II hand in hand with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region II, OceanaGold Phils. Inc., FCF Minerals Corporation and Geogen Corporation recently held a Basic Incident Command System (ICS) Training at Valley Hotel, Alimanao Hilll, Penabalnaca, Cagayan on June 15-17, 2016.

The training was conducted to enhance the knowledge of participants on ICS as a vital tool for effective disaster response.

Engr. Mario A. Ancheta, MGB OIC Regional Director welcomed the participants which are members of RERT from the three large mining companies in the region.

“I thanked the mining companies for joining us in this endeavor. This training will help us in our Emergency Response Program in the region,  Ancheta said in his welcome address.

“We are preparing ourselves to ensure that we can save lives when a disaster hits our communities. With this, we can address the needs of the affected areas even outside Cagayan Valley region just like what we have done in Tacloban when Typhoon Yolanda slammed the city,” the Regional Director added.

The speakers during the training were Norma C. Talosig, OCD Regional Director who lectured on the foundation and legal basis of ICS; Andres Galapia, Fire Chief Inspector of Isabela Bureau Fire Protection (BFP) discussed the ICS Organization and Staffing and Incident Assessment and Management Objectives; Ronald Villa, Training Section Chief of OCD lectured about ICS facilities and Incident Resources and Resource Management; William B. Lipit of Provincial Disaster Risk Response and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Quezon Province gave a lecture about Organizing and Managing Incidents and Events, Incident and Event Planning and Transfer of Command, Demobilization and Closeout.

After a lecture per module the participants were given exercises and activities to apply what have they learned per module. Participants were also asked to submit per group an Incident Action Plan (IAP) based on the scenario given to them.

Further, the participants were tasked to perform an Operational Period Briefing to demonstrate their knowledge on ICS staff and functions.

RD Ancheta in his closing message said, “The training gave us an opportunity to capacitate ourselves to be of better help to others especially on disaster response.”