High school studes trained in water search, rescue

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, July 19 (PIA) - To enhance the skills and capabilities of local responders most especially the students during disasters and calamities, 64 high school students from different public and private schools in Aparri town in this province were trained on basic water search and rescue operations.

Student-participants of the Basic Water Search and Rescue Course for Junior Rescue 42 perform knot tying to familiarize themselves with the standards ofwater, flood and rope rescue.

(Photo by Aparri MunicipalGovernment Facebook page)

Spearheaded by its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection, the three-day Basic Water Search and Rescue Course for Junior Rescue 42 dubbed as "Salaknib Dagiti Tattao" held in Sta. Ana town on July 11-13 also aimed to familiarize the participants with standards in water, flood and rope rescue.

"Salaknib Dagiti Tattao" is an Iloko phrase which means "protection of the people".

Bryan Jay B. Mendoza, MDRRMO head, said it is important to familiarize local responders with standards in water, flood and rope rescue to increase effectiveness and limit liability during emergency operations.

For her part, Mayor Shalimar D. Tumaru expressed her utmost appreciation to the participants for their full support and cooperation during the training.

Tumaru said she is positive that the training would help LGU Aparri to achieve its goal of zero casualties in times of disasters and calamities.

Meanwhile, certificates of completion were given to the participating schools to include Aparri East National High School, Aparri School of Arts and Trades, Aparri West National High School, Bukig National Agricultural and Technical School, Cagayan Valley Institute, and St. Paul School of Aparri. (MDCT/PIA-2/With reports from Aparri Municipal Government Facebook page)