The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 1 in coordination with the city government of Dagupan has conducted a Basic Incident Command System (BICS) Training for members and representatives of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), line government agencies, civil society groups and volunteers from November 8-10 at the E-Library in barangay Poblacion Oeste.
A flagship progam of the OCD, the ICS is a standard, on-scene and all-hazard incident management concept introduced by the United States Forest Service and is being utilized by DRRMCs in the country to manage and coordinate actions of all response groups.
Mayor Belen Fernandez underscored the need for the BICS training to capacitate the CDRRMC in times of disasters and calamities even as she is hopeful for the local government unit of Dagupan to integrate the system in the grassroots level to involve residents and the community.
Moreover, OCD Regional Director Gregory Cayetano highlighted the principles and functions of the ICS that will guide participants and stakeholders in establishing efficient actions during various incidents.
Among the topics dicussed during a November 10 meeting between the local chief execuitve and the regional director were programs for Disaster Mitigation, Disaster Preparedness and Family Disaster Preparedness.
The three-day seminar/training tackled modules on Introduction to ICS; Organization and Staffing; Facilities; Managing Incidents and Events; Assessment and Management; Organizing and Managing Resources; Incident and Event Planning; and Transfer of Command, Demobilization and Close-out.
It involved interactive lecture discussions, pre-test, post-test, audio-visual presentations, workshops, structured learning exercises and return demonstrations conducted by Ronald de Guzman (CDRRMO-Dagupan), Aries Aquino (MDRRMO-Bautista) and Ysrael Sobredo (Bureau of Fire Protection-La Union).
