THE Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) has been preparing for the onset of the rainy season as it conducted disaster response exercises at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City.

The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Planning Exercise was held June 13 to 15.

It was participated by the planners and disaster management implementers of Eastmincom's different units.

Eastmincom's spokesperson Major Ezra Balagtey said the acitivity is "in consonance with the directive of Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to alert all units under its control."

Guerrero also ordered them to review their respective disaster plans as part of the preparations.

Update of different planners and disaster response implementers on the basics of Incident Management in accordance to the standards of Incident Command System as lectured by Director Liza Mazo of the Office of Civil Defense in the region was also targeted by the organization.

Being the lead agency in Search Rescue and Retrieval, the exercise also allows EMC to inventory and identify different search and rescue organizations in its Area of Responsibility. (CCC)