CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Central Luzon is strengthening its emergency medical response system as government agencies and development partners continue to enhance disaster preparedness and build more resilient communities through coordinated emergency response training in line with the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month.
The two-day Project MedX: Central Luzon Emergency Medical Simulation Exercise (SimEx) brought together the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the City Government of San Fernando, hospitals, academic institutions, humanitarian organizations, and private sector partners to test the region’s capacity to respond to major disasters through a simulated magnitude 6.8 earthquake scenario.
The exercise assessed the readiness of emergency responders in managing mass casualties, patient transport, hospital surge capacity, and inter-agency coordination, which are critical components of an effective emergency medical response system during disasters.
OCD Region III Officer-in-Charge Shelby Ruiz said the simulation highlights the importance of collaboration in ensuring timely and life-saving assistance during emergencies while strengthening institutional preparedness.
“Beyond developing technical skills and operational readiness, this exercise serves as a platform for fostering teamwork, leadership, and the exchange of best practices,” Ruiz said.
Experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) Resilience Institute and the UP Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Program observed and evaluated the exercise, documenting operational strengths and areas for improvement to help further enhance the country’s emergency medical response systems.
“This is the right venue to make mistakes and learn from them. It is far better to improve during a drill than during a real disaster when lives are at stake,” Evaluation Team Leader Dr. Carlos Primero D. Gundran said.
City of San Fernando Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Head Raymond Del Rosario said conducting simulation exercises in schools has become increasingly important as educational institutions prepare for both natural hazards and emerging security threats.
“In light of recent incidents in schools, this is an opportunity to test our readiness to respond not only to natural hazards but also to human-induced threats,” Del Rosario said.
Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Preparedness-Philippines (A-PAD PH) Executive Director Athea Peñaloza said the exercise reflects months of planning and collaboration among partner institutions committed to improving emergency preparedness.
“Preparedness cannot be achieved by one organization alone—it requires effective multi-sector collaboration. Through Project MedX, we are strengthening these partnerships today so that we can save more lives tomorrow,” Peñaloza said.
Following the simulation, participating agencies conducted a structured debriefing to evaluate operational performance and identify improvements in emergency response protocols and coordination.
Officials said the exercise supports the Marcos administration’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to disaster resilience by strengthening emergency medical systems, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and improving the capacity of communities to respond to major emergencies.
They added that sustained investments in preparedness, training, and simulation exercises help advance the Bagong Pilipinas vision of safer, healthier, and more resilient Filipino communities. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)