CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City--The AFP's search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) units joined the mustering of the national government's SRR capability on March 9 at the Lapu-Lapu Grandstand.
The mustering was held as part of the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) to assess the cluster's capacity and readiness to respond to disasters, including the anticipated destructive earthquake called “The Big One.”
Personnel and equipment from other cluster agencies, including the OCD, PCG, BFP, MMDA, DOH, PNP, and BFP, were also gathered. In addition, response units from the AFP Major Services and Unified Commands also participated via video teleconferencing.
As the head agency of the SRR Cluster, the DND, through the AFP, supports "effective, efficient, organized and systematic search, rescue, and retrieval operations to disaster affected areas to minimize loss of lives and casualties."
The SRR Cluster is the national organization that will coordinate and deploy all available Search and Rescue teams from the government, civil society, private sector, and the international community.
Acting Undersecretary of National Defense, USec Angelito De Leon, served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker. USec Ariel Nepomuceno, OCD Administrator; ASec Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, OCD Deputy Administrator for Operations; AFP Vice Chief of Staff LtGen Arthur Cordura; and Chief Superintendent Rommel Tradio, Director, Special Rescue Force, BFP, joined him.
Later, the military and civilian personnel of the AFP also joined the NSED and practiced the duck, cover, and hold recommended procedure in the event of a strong earthquake.
“However positive the outcome of the event is, there should be no let up in continuously and efficiently boosting our disaster resilience and preparedness capability,” USec De Leon said.
“Ang kaligtasan ng sambayanang Pilipino, ng ating mga pamayanan at pamilya, ay nakasalalay hindi lamang sa iisang tao o ahensya ng pamahalaan, kundi sa ating pagkakaisa at sama-samang paghahanda at pagbabayanihan,” USec De Leon added.///(Photos by PAOAFP)
