The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as part of the multi-agency that will represent in the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Region VII, spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense, has participated in the Incident Command System Basic Training Course last May 24-26, 2017 at Azia Suite and Residences in Cebu City.  

At a glance, Incident Command System is an On-Scene Disaster Response and Management Mechanism under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System (PDRRMS) ergo - it is a management tool that is proven to be an effective disaster response mechanism at the scene level and has been emanated and utilized by the United States and adopted by a number of other countries. Further, it is now rapidly emerging as the common management tool and an international language for disaster response.

Once more, the office thru the Regional Statistical Service Office, Region 07 (RSSO) and Bohol Provincial Statistical Office (BPSO) both valiantly handpicked and dispatched magnanimously its representatives to the said Basic Training Course and the ensuing training courses – if the situation calls for their representations later – to fulfil the mandate given by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) by virtue of its Memorandum Circular No.4 Series of 2012, dated 28 March 2012.

Felixberto M. Sato Jr. of RSSO Region 7 and Fidel R. Antopina Jr. of Bohol joined the multi-agency participants on ICS Basic Training Course at said venue lectured by four (4) National Cadres headed by Dr. Joseph Al L. Alesna, a pediatric surgeon by profession. The training was encapsulated to eight (8) modules, namely; Introduction to ICS, Organization  and Staffing, ICS Facilities, Organizing and Managing Incidents and Events, Incident / Event Assessment and Management by Objectives, Incident Resources and Resource Management, Incident  and Event Planning and lastly Transfer of Command, Demobilization and Closeout.

As aptly stated in MC No.04 of 2012 and as a general background to this incident management tool, it was being observed that natural and human-induced disasters are becoming more frequent and climate change has further added to the unpredictability of their occurrences as well as their impact on society. It is in this context that our government, through the NDRRMC, is confronted with the challenge to level up its awareness and vigilance in ensuring that disaster risks are prevented and minimized accordingly and thus prepared to meet the needs of affected population when disasters or emergencies occur.

The three-day training was impeccably graced by Dir. Concepcion Ornopia, MNSA, the Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense, Region VII. It was facilitated, cooperated and assisted by their arrays of staffs who were all experts in planned and unplanned events using the ICS ways.