Students, responders to undergo shooting response training

For the first time, a learning session on how to respond to active shooting incidents has been integrated into this year's province-wide Search and Rescue (SAR) Congress.

The annual event is organized by the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).

PDRRMO Chief Baltazar Tribunalo said the program is very timely with the recent spate of shooting incidents across Cebu province.

Representatives from the police force, including Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) will train the participants on how to render tactical emergency care.

This year, there will be 16 sessions.

Six to seven hundred participants are expected to take part in the training, which will be held at the Central Command headquarters.

Responders from 52 participating local government units, including Cebu City, and the academe-based response teams are among the participants of the threeday summit, which will commence tomorrow.

Cebu City DRRM Chief Nagiel Bañacia said the universities’ emergency response teams have proven themselves to be vital in responding to emergencies, especially within school premises.

The academe-based teams have been assisting the authorities in special events like the Sinulog Festival.

Equipping them with updates on emergency response would be an advantage, Bañacia said.

Tribunalo, for his part, said academe-based response teams should be the first responders in case of shooting incidents nearby or within the school premises.

Citing multiple incidents abroad, he said students ran amok and shot students dead.

He stressed that preparing student-responders would make a huge difference in saving lives.

Aside from the sessions, an exhibit of DRRM equipment providers at the SAR Congress is also among the highlights.

Tribunalo said getting quality DRRM equipment has been one of the struggles of the city and municipal government units.

PDRRMO hopes to address this issue by inviting exhibitors to the summit.

The standardization of skills and protocol is also one of the challenges which the event wishes to address.

Also, updating communication system with the LGUs and other partners will also be part of the expected outcomes of the event.

– Lorraine Mitzi A. Ambrad/KBQ