Philippines: CiERT Sanfran team spearheads training
by Romer R. Ranoco-Ciert P.R.O
Heeding a call from Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano, Jr to build a community with a culture of safety and a 2011 United Nations Sasakawa awardee for disaster reduction, the Camotes Islands Emergency Response Team (CiERT) in San Francisco recently spearheaded an awareness raising workshop on 'Water, Search and Rescue' (WASAR).
Thirty-two trainees composed of three children, aged between 9-11, 10 youths and 19 barangay councillors and tanods (Barangay Intelligence Network). All the participants residents of San Francisco barangays joined the training held last May 23-26, 2011 in Tulang Diot, Esperanza, San Francisco, Cebu, Philippines.
The venue of the training was chosen by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office (LDRRMO) in order to encourage community participation and increase level of awareness of the residents from the areas identified as most vulnerable in the municipality.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, through Rosalinda C. Serion, financed the activity, which is also part of the implementation of the five-year San Francisco Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan.
Marianila Barral, a Camotes national high school teacher opened the activity by sharing her experience from the third session of the Global Platform for disaster risk reduction held in Geneva in early May, 2011, stressing the importance of preparedness and the role of the responder during emergencies.
The training was aimed to equip the participants with knowledge on the Disaster Management Framework necessary in the operation of the team through WASAR. Hon. Aaron “Ken” Capao, San Francisco SB Member described the Philippine Disaster Management System followed by Monica P. Tan on the Community based Disaster Management. The Incident Command System was tackled by Romer R. Ranoco of Cabonga, a national high school and Rosalinda C. Serion, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer discussed the legality of the creation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
Baltazar Tribunalo, Country Advisor on Child-Centered Disaster Risk Reduction of Plan International, the brain of CiERT and the trainers encouraged the trainees to increase their level of awareness in building a culture of safety. Tribunalo not only made input to the physical activities for the trainees to become physically fit to tackle the different exercises, but also building capacity on values and working attitudes such as patience, time management and perseverance in response to disaster. He emphasized more the importance of the relation of man and the environment.
First aid, basic swimming strokes, hold and escapes and grabbing were discussed by Renato Sampan, team leader and head trainer and after the theories practical demonstration followed with Linton Capao, the assistant team leader.
One and a half survival swim polished the water exercise and rappelling refined the ropes and lines where the Saint Joseph Parish Priest Reverend Father Antonio Bayud, MSc participated the said activity and lead the interfaith prayer before deploying the participants to the sea.
The four-day training on Water Search and Rescue closed by with special recognition given to the active participants such 'Best Young Responder' who survived the one and a half mile swim without a life jacket, Linton C. Capao, Jr., a 10 year old boy from Northern Poblacion. Hendly Capao was awarded the best team leader and Henry del Corro, best in rappel.
The Sanfran CiERT Team was able also to response two motorized bancas capsized incidence in the month of May where they immediately response the calls and continue working to achieve the goal “Zero Casualty and no injury” which UNISDR Asia Pacific Champion Al Arquillano emphasized.