LGU Caramoan adopts Incident Command System through the basic training course

The Local Government Unit of Caramoan, through the instigation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, conducted a 3-day training on Basic Incident Command System (ICS) Course among the members of the LGU on 29-31 January 2019 at CMC Hall, Caramoan.

ICS, one of the flagship programs of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD),is a standard, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept that can be used by all Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils at all levels, especially the response groups inresponding to incidents and managing events of the province. Under the training, participants obtained the knowledge and skills necessary for the application ofICS in various disastersand situations. Through the 3-day training, participants underwent eight modules by which they learned the concept of ICS, its organization, including the roles and responsibilities of the Incident Management Team (IMT) members, and the ICS facilities,including the different map symbols used in operation. Participants also learned the different considerations for managing planned events and incidents, the process for assessing situations using the principle of management by objectives, the approaches used when managing resources, the considerations for incident and event planning, and the overview of the transfer of command, demobilization, and close-out as key activities when terminating an ICS operation. “I have been working for 30 years now and this is the first time that I have underwent such training. It became an eye opener to me that during disasters, we are all volunteers here and we should not be minding of our ranks.Rather, we should know our participation as an IMT member,” shared Alex Arojado, Public Schools District Supervisor from Caramoan District and one of the participants. Krishna Mae Herrero, the Executive Secretary of Caramoan Mayor Marilyn Cordial,who also participated in the training, shared, “Through the training, our group became more organized and we have fully understood the right structure with regard to responding. We can be more effective and efficient in delivering aid to those at risk especially sinceCaramoan is a disaster-prone area.” When managing events and incidents, ICS is very helpful to avoid different issues such as lack of reliable information, inadequate communication, uncoordinated planning, differences in terminology between agencies, political interventions, among others. Some of the successful application of ICS in incidents and events in the Philippines include the Black Nazarene Traslacion, Mt. Apo Fire Incident, APEC Meetings, ASEAN Meetings, Typhoon Ruby, and Marawi Crisis. The Basic ICS Training Course is just one of the ladderized courses of Incident Command System. Among other courses are Integrated Planning Course on ICS, ICS Position Courses, All-Hazards IMT Training, and Training for Instructors. “ICS is standardized, all-hazard management system that the locality can use for establishing their own Incident Management Team. Participants as they say, have appreciated the training because there is really a need for this kind of system. They were very receptive and I have seen their potentials as future managers of events or incidents here in Caramoan,” said Doctor Eric Raborar, one of the national cadres for the ICS who facilitated the training.