Sarangani holds search and rescue Olympics to boost disaster response

 

Sarangani holds search and rescue Olympics to boost disaster response

MAASIM, Sarangani (November 15, 2022) – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council conducted a Search and Rescue Olympics (SARLYMPICS) to further enhance and capacitate the skills of local responders in terms of disaster preparedness and disaster response.

According to Jerry Jucaban Jr., training section chief of PDRRMO, the SARLYMPICS will not only “promote sportsmanship and camaraderie among responders,” but also “ma-update sila sa mga bagong knowledge at bagong techniques sa disaster response.”

During the 5-day event on November 7-11, six teams have undergone courses and were scored by the evaluators from various partner agencies.

Courses include Water Search and Rescue (WASAR), Vehicular Accident Management (VAM), Basic Life Support – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (BLS-CPR), Landslide Incident Management (LIM), Hailing, Land Navigation, and River-Crossing Highline Set-up.

This year’s SARLYMPICS also held a Camp Management competition to select the best team who has provided an essential space for effectively organizing needed resources for disaster preparedness and disaster response.

Evaluators of the courses are from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of Health, and the Philippine Red Cross.

Sarangani holds search and rescue Olympics to boost disaster response

Alabel Rescue Unit was hailed the overall champion in the 2022 SARLYMPICS and bagged a P100,000 cash prize, while Maasim Rescue placed second and took home P80,000, and Malapatan Sumbo Action Force (SAF) ranked third with a P60,000 cash prize.

A P10,000 consolation prize was also given to the non-winners of the competition.

This is the 5th win of Alabel responders against all Municipal DRRMO in the municipalities of Sarangani in the annual conduct of SARLYMPICS.

Alabel local responders also won in several courses including Best in VAM and Best in Land Navigation.

Maasim also bagged several awards including Best in WASAR, Best in LIM, Best in Hailing, and Best in River-Crossing, while Malapatan responders also won Best in BLS-CPR and Best in Camp Management.

Jucaban emphasized the importance of the role of local responders as “the frontline and first responders” when disasters occur. He said the PDRRMO has been conducting “community-based trainings” to capacitate local responders even up to the barangay level.

The PDRRMO hoped that this friendly competition will enhance partnerships that have already been forged in the past between and among the rescue groups, and strengthen the network of search and rescue assistance, cooperation, and coordination in the region. (Jori Mae R. Samillano & photos by Jake T. Narte/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)




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