The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted a Flood Incident Response Safety Training (F.I.R.S.T.) in the northern portion of Metro Manila and Luzon.
A total of 404 responders from the 17 local government units of the National Capital Region, Southern Police District-Taguig City, and Metro Bataan Development Authority participated in the training held in the following areas: Ternate, Cavite; San Rafael, Bulacan; and Mariveles, Bataan.
“The training aims to capacitate the local government units in the metropolis as well as the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.”
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos stressed that the training aims to capacitate the local government units in the metropolis as well as the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BRRMC) in responding to emergency incidents like flooding.
“One of the natural hazards affecting Metro Manila is flooding. Henceforth, we have to intensify the capability of our first responders, who are at the forefront during extreme emergencies, and further improve our disaster response efforts,” Abalos said.
The program, led by MMDA’s Metropolitan Public Safety Office (MPSO) headed by Atty. Victor Pablo Trinidad, trained the participants on water safety, rubber boat operations, rubber boat handling and operation, among others.
F.I.R.S.T. training also involves practical exercises such as land portage carry, simple reach and rescue, capsizing and recovery, maneuvering of rubber boat with outboard of motor, and rigging and knot tying.
The traffic chief said there will be another training to be conducted in the first quarter of 2022, dubbed as ELSAROC (Earthquake, Landslide, Search and Rescue Orientation Course).
“In addition to the F.I.R.S.T. training being done regularly by MPSO, we will be having a disaster preparedness training called ELSAROC. The exact date and venue have yet to be determined,” the traffic head explained.
“There will be another training to be conducted in the first quarter of 2022, dubbed as ELSAROC.”
MPSO is in-charge of establishing sectionalized disaster and emergency response units – Central, North, South, East and West sectors – capable of immediately responding to emergencies and disasters affecting Metro Manila.
