The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, through the Environment, Disaster Management, and Emergency Response Office, successfully conducted the 3-day training for the second batch of trainees on Community-Based Early Warning, Evacuation, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (EECCCM), held on November 26-28, 2025 at Ocampo Municipal Complex.
A total of 78 participants, comprising officials from the 13 barangays of Ocampo, including Ayugan, San Antonio, Cagmanaba, Cabariwan, Gatbo, Poblacion West, Poblacion Central, Poblacion East, San Vicente, Salvacion, Del Rosario, Guinaban, and Sto. Niño, as well as personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Gryphon Fire Volunteer and Rescue, Force Multiplier Assistance Group, Kabalikat, and the Municipal DRRM Office attended the training.
The training equipped barangay officials and agency representatives with proper measures for an effective and organized disaster preparedness and response to support communities before, during, and after disasters.
According to MDRRMO Head Julius Celino, LDRRMO III, the training was initiated due to the need for capacity-building interventions, especially when managing internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the barangay level. He shared, “Nag-ugat po ini nin huli kan mga nakaaging bagyo na narisa mi na an samong mga barangay, kabali man po kami na medyo nara-rattle ‘pag may paabuton na bagyo. Kaya po pinag-isipan po kang disaster council kang municipyo na magkaigwa po ning capacity development on EECCCM.”
“Saro po sa manunudan digdi iyo ang protocol sa pag-manage kan IDPs. Dati, basta mag-order ang province ning evacuation, minaduruman sana sa sona, maharakot ning tawo, dadarahon sa evacuation center. But after this training, I hope na ma-register na ninda su mga maralaog sa evacuation center na IDPs and magkaigwa sinda nin safekeeping and caring sa mga IDPs. Yan po ang saro sa mga protocols kang EECCCM,” furthered Celino.
Following standard operating procedures, participants were provided with clear steps in preparing for and responding to disasters. They learned to recognize early warning signs, implement early warning strategies, understand when and how to trigger evacuation, follow steps for a smooth and safe evacuation process, and use guidelines for operating and managing evacuation centers.
For SF01 Michael Ray Rivero, Chief Fire Safety Enforcement Section of Ocampo Fire Station, the training was highly beneficial, saying, “It's a big help and knowledge po sa amin, as national agency, para po malaman namin kung saan po kami makakatulong sa aming LGU, sa aming mga barangay, especially kung ano po ang maari naming maihatid na tulong or maging suporta na pwedeng ibigay 'pag nagkaroon po ng kalamidad sa aming bayan.”
SF01 Rivero identified the organizational structure as the most crucial part of the training for EECCCM, particularly the composition, which ensures participants are aware of who is in charge of which roles.
He concluded, “We would like to give thanks to Governor Lray Villafuerte sa ganitong uri ng capacity development, particularly po para sa LGUs. Napakalaking bagay po na nagkaroon ng training para ma-improve and ma-enhance ang knowledge po ng bawat mamamayan to address this kind of hazard, to address this kind of problems na patuloy po nating nae-encounter sa ating lugar 'pag nagkakaroon po ng bagyo.”
The training ended with a simulation exercise, where participants enacted scenario-based activities and played roles within the organizational structures to test and improve their understanding of disaster management.
