NCRPO and BFP personnel show off their search-and-rescue skills in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.
NCRPO hones search-and-rescue skills amid pandemic
HOW to safely rescue COVID-19-infected persons stranded in flood-submerged houses and hospital facilities and bring them to safer grounds? How to negotiate deep floodwaters in Metro Manila on board small rescue boats? How to rappel to safely rescue people from a burning house or a mid-rise building?
These are the scenarios in the mind of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) as Major General Vicente D. Danao Jr. on Thursday led the start of the annual Metro Manila police force’s search-and-rescue (SAR) competition to further hone the skills of their disaster response teams during the pandemic and the rainy season.
Joined by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr., the NCRPO chief said the team event being held at the NCRPO grandstand in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City aims to ensure the preparedness of Team NCRPO specifically its Regional Mobile Force Battalion and their counterparts in responding to natural disasters.
“It particularly aims to improve their capabilities both on equipment, skills and to strengthen the collaboration and coordination between each rescue unit,” said Danao.
Thirteen teams each composed of four NCRPO personnel, two from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the City Disaster Rescue Management Office and the MMDA are participating in the competition.
The teams come from the NCRPO Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the five NCRPO District Mobile Battalion Teams and selected SAR teams from several Metro Manila police stations including the Marikina City Police Station whose SAR team is busy rescuing stranded residents each time massive flooding hits the city.
Danao said the event is divided into four phases: High Angle Rescue, Emergency Medical Procedure, Rescuing COVID-19 Infected Flood Victims and Rescue Boat Stage.
Both the High Angle Rescue and Rescuing Covid-19 Infected Flood Victim phases were completed on the first day while the two other stages will be completed at designated venues this week.
Abalos extended his gratitude to Team NCRPO for responding decisively in affected areas in the NCR during natural disasters as he appreciated the conduct of the SAR competition.
“Having this skills-based competitions such as this SAR training impacts our overall response and capabilities in calamity and disaster response in the NCR. This activity serves as a gauge as to how committed the PNP leadership to save life and protect the properties of our fellow Filipinos,” said Abalos as he praised Danao and his men for their worthy endeavor.
Danao said he has directed the NCRPO Regional Learning and Development Doctrine Division to continuously conduct SAR competition and training to evaluate and further enhance the capability of their men on the ground when it comes to saving lives.
