In preparation for the ‘Big One,’ the City Government of San Fernando created a Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) task force composed of five personnel from the Operations and Warning Division of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
During Monday’s flag raising ceremony at the City Hall, CDRRM Officer Raymond Del Rosario presented the members of the task force namely Jayson Mallari, Erwin Manese, Mark Russel Dimla, Bhryan Rivera and Hanzel Cruz.
Del Rosario said “San Fernando is among the six LGUs in Central Luzon that has been chosen to create a task force who will be in charge of responding to structural collapse in their respective areas and may also provide assistance in Metro Manila in the occurrence of an earthquake.”
The city’s task force, together with representatives from the cities of Olongapo, Cabanatuan and PDRRMO of Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan underwent a CSSR training course in Tarlac City from July 16 to 24 which was hosted by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council through the Office of the Civil Defense Region 3.
Hanzel Cruz, member of the San Fernando CSSR task force, said they were trained on organizing & starting a CSSR operation, structural triage & the INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group), operational safety as well as methods & techniques for searching & locating, shoring, lifting & stabilizing loads and extricating trapped victims.
Other topics tackled were the necessary construction materials, structures & damage types; tools, equipment & accessories for rescuing, and the pre-hospital treatment for victims.
“Ngayon lang ako sumailalim sa ganitong klase ng training at hindi pala ito madali. Gayunman, napakalaking tulong nito hindi lang sa akin kundi sa lahat ng mga Fernandinos. Makakaasa po kayo na gagamitin namin ng buong husay ang lahat ng aming natutunan sa oras na kailanganin,” Cruz added.
For his part, Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago lauded the efforts of the OCD in providing the city responders with necessary skills and competencies. He added that the city continuously strives to invest on trainings on disaster response and recovery whether it is affected or not by the ‘Big One.’
“The city supports the vision of the OCD towards one resilient Central Luzon. We are currently working on the improvement of our contingency plans and capability building and we develop local responders to ensure the safety of the citizenry at all times,” Santiago said.