Coast Guard conducts disaster response training in Hilongos

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines  - Four frogmen from the Cebu City-based Coast Guard Special Operations Group arrived in this town, upon the invitation of Mayor Jose Emery Roble, to conduct a 3-day disaster response training, which started yesterday.

Roble, also an auxiliary member of the Philippine Navy with a rank of commander, told The Freeman in an exclusive interview, that the town's personnel need to be trained because Hilongos has vast plains with two wide rivers geographically positioned in opposite boundaries.

"People will be of great risk because the town will be isolated if both rivers will overflow. Good that only the Bankerohan river located in the southern part was the only one which overflowed this week," said the mayor.

Hilongos Coast Guard commander PO2 Mario Rosaldo Madrigal said the training includes water survival, river crossing, life saving techniques, personnel evacuation and rubber boat handling. These are all essential to the effective response of the Hilongos Emergency Action Response Team (HEART).

Councilor Reynaldo Badilla, chair of the adhoc panel of the disaster response and risk management, said that five teams with 16 members each are participating in the training. Non-team members were also invited by the mayor to join to maximize the opportunity of having experts as trainers.

The Coast Guard came into town bringing with them a rubber boat and other gadgets for the training, while the LGU provided life vests and other basic equipment. (FREEMAN)