Philippine Navy brass: Pangasinenses can now be assured of quick underwater search, rescue

From the Philippine News Agency (May 26): Philippine Navy brass: Pangasinenses can now be assured of quick underwater search, rescue 

The people of Pangasinan can now can be assured of prompt and efficient underwater search and rescue in times of disasters.

This was disclosed by Commodore Nodolfo Tejada, Commander of the Naval Forces of Northern Luzon of the Philippine Navy, when he addressed 28 crewmen of the Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) teams of the provincial government and six Local Government Units (LGUs) who underwent proper training on Underwater Search and Recovery conducted by the Philippine Navy from May 19-23, here.

Commodore Tejada, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the closing ceremony at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Conference Hall, lauded the active involvement of the provincial government, LGUs and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 1 to the activity.

“Mature success will always be dependent on how you will perform and practice the skills you have learned,” Tejada told WASAR personnel, as he encouraged them “to bring out what they learned when their service is needed during times of disasters and calamities.”

Lt. Junior Grade Joey Plan and Executive Officer Alvin Aguila of the Naval Operations Unit 2 gave a series of lectures and conducted on-the-spot execution of learning in the five-day training which included basic scuba diving course.

The training was organized by the PDRRMC in coordination with OCD-Region 1 and Naval Forces Northern Luzon.

PDRRMC Officer-in-Charge Executive Officer Fernando de Guzman said the activity, conducted on the instruction of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., was a preparation for quick response on emergency cases which require underwater search, rescue and recovery (for drowning victims) particularly in disaster-prone towns of Bugallon, Rosales Lingayen San Fabian and cities of San Carlos and Urdaneta.

“We conducted this activity for our WASAR crewmen to be authorized to respond on search and recovery operations,” Col. De Guzman said, as he noted the province will no longer be dependent to personnel from the Coast Guard or the Philippine Navy when speedy response to emergency cases is needed.

The training, according to de Guzman, was first in the province, and in the entire Philippines.

Prior to the activity, the PDRRMC has purchased four sets of scuba diving equipment.

Randy Wapson of MDRRMC Lingayen and Mario Lopez of PDRRMC-WASAR team, on behalf of the participants, expressed their worthwhile experience and said “safety first is paramount at all times” in their duty as emergency responders.

Assistant Regional Director of OCD–Region 1 Imelda Acosta, who also heads the agency’s training division, was joined in by Commodore Tejada; Commander Levi Carane, Civil Military Officer of the Naval Forces of Northern Luzon; OIC PDRRMC Executive Officer de Guzman in awarding certificates of completion to the participants.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=647294