THE 53rd Infantry Battalion (53IB) launched Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and Disaster Risk Reduction Operations (DRRO) Trainings on Tuesday, May 10, 2025 to enhance the troops' combat readiness and humanitarian capabilities.
Personnel from various line companies of the 53IB are participating in the integrated training. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to prepare troops for combat and to equip them as first responders during natural and human-caused disasters.
“Through these trainings, we are not only preparing our troops for the battlefield but also equipping them to be dependable defenders of life and protectors of our communities,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Vargas Jr., 53IB commander, in a statement.
Vargas explained that the TCCC Training concentrates on delivering life-saving medical care in combat zones and high-risk environments.
Participating troops learn crucial trauma procedures, including hemorrhage control, airway management, and casualty evacuation. These skills can significantly improve survival rates during armed conflicts or emergency rescues.
Vargas added that the DRRO training aims to build soldiers' ability to respond effectively to different disaster situations, such as typhoons, floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
It emphasizes early warning systems, evacuation planning, and community-based disaster management. This empowers troops to contribute meaningfully to local disaster response and resilience efforts.
Subject-Matter Experts facilitate both training programs, with course content based on the standardized Program of Instruction from higher headquarters, Vargas noted. He added that by combining disaster preparedness with tactical medical care, they demonstrate strong multidimensional readiness, capable of saving lives in both conflict areas and disaster-affected regions.
Both trainings are being held at Camp Major David Sabido, the location of the 53IB headquarters in Poblacion village, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur. (SunStar Zamboanga)