PH Disaster Management Chief Visits CSSR Training
Undersecretary Alexander P. Pama visited the second Collapsed Search and Rescue (CSSR) Training on February 10, 2016 held in Western Bicutan, Taguig City. USec Pama is the incumbent Administrator of the Office for Civil Defense (OCD) and Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).USec. Pama lauded the initiatives of ACDI MPC for its initiatives for search and rescue operations in support of the Government’s intensified efforts for disaster preparedness. Capacity-building through these trainings are both timely and critical in boosting the operational readiness of local government units, and partner agencies such as the AFP to swiftly respond to emergency situations. The Government’s disaster management chief further expressed the intent of his agencies to bolster the country’s urban search and rescue (USAR) capabilities. This is imperative as the country ranks among the most disaster-prone countries in the world being situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire and Typhoon Belt. Moreover, he added that these kinds of capacity-building initiatives will strengthen the Philippine Government’s bid for membership in the International Search and Rescue Group (INSARAG). According to their official profile, INSARAG is a global network of more than 80 countries and organization of more than 80 countries and organizations under the United Nations. The group focuses on USAR and aims to establish minimum international standards for USAR teams and methodology for international coordination in earthquake response. The CSSR Training is an eight-day search and rescue training organized and hosted by ACDI MPC in partnership with the Cebu-based Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) and 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force. The second batch of the CSSR Training is composed of 36 participants from ACDI MPC, Koop King Multi-purpose Cooperative, Taguig City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, 505th Search and Rescue Group and Air Reserve Command of the Philippine Air Force.
