CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- If disaster strikes, are the villages of the City of San Fernando ready?
The disaster response skills of this city’s barangay were put to the test on Wednesday in the First Barangay Rescue Olympics held by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at the Heroes Hall.
The participants competed in various activities that aimed to test how well they can respond to emergency cases.
Each group was rated based on their teamwork, mobilization skills, preparation, and use of disaster equipment as they hurdled various obstacles and activities; information education; bandaging relay; and lifting and moving relay.
The event comes as the local government unit’s disaster officials discuss plans and preparations for natural calamities such as the "Big One"– a strong earthquake that experts say is due to hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces and cities.
The disaster response team from Barangay Pulung Bulu was crowned the grand champion in the event, followed by Sindalan, 1st runner up, and Del Rosario, 2nd runner up.
Aside from demonstrating disaster response systems, the event also aimed to share best practices among the villages and to discuss coordination with each local unit.
“When it comes to typhoon or earthquake, our first lines of defense are the Barangay Rescue Teams” said Mayor Edwin D. Santiago who also chairs the city’s disaster management council.
“We trained our barangay to become prepared because they are often the first ones to help each other before rescuers can come to their aid,” he added.
The mayor underscored the need to keep improving and refining techniques to adapt to worst-case scenarios.
Earlier this year, the city received the Central Luzon’s Best Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Award from the Office of the Civil Defense, while the San Fernando Rescue Unit was named as the second best in emergency response team category. (CSF-CIO)