CEBU — More than 4,000 individuals in Central Visayas have completed disaster risk management training and are now seeking certification from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), a move that highlights growing public interest in disaster preparedness.
According to Philippines News Agency, Director of OCD-Central Visayas, a total of 4,108 people have undergone Incident Command System (ICS) training from 2023 to 2024, with 130 local government units and organizations participating in the certification process. ICS is a vital incident management system used during emergencies, providing a standardized approach for emergency responders and enabling rapid organizational scaling.
In addition to ICS training, the OCD conducted 250 other relevant disaster-related trainings over the past year. Erestain noted that the national government, through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, has allocated PHP833 million for projects in Cebu and PHP498 million in Bohol to bolster disaster resilience.
“We are strengthening partnerships and collaborations with local government agencies and various stakeholders in implementing disaster-related programs and projects,” Erestain said.