Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard – Batangas District completed the 10th Batch of Water Search and Rescue Training for water personnel of Marinduque on September 23, 2017 held in Barangay Laylay municipality of Boac.
“This time, we have included uniformed personnel, emergency staff and representatives from the local government units because they also act as maritime personnel during sea rescue in times of typhoons and hurricanes,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated.
“These emergency frontliners need to have the proper knowledge and the ability on how to manage a possible victim prior to and upon arrival of the health response team and also to provide immediate emergency response to victims during disasters,” he emphasized.
Among the participants included staff from resort owners and representatives from the local government units, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Army (PA) and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC).
There were 45 participants but only 28 qualified were qualified to passed the training which was held from September 18-23, 2017.
The 6-day WASAR training includes lessons on various water rescue entry, breath holding, underwater swim, knot tying, different techniques of swimming, survival and life-saving, group survival, water evolution and threading, rubber boat operation and 1-mile swim.
MIMAROPA now has a total of 299 WASAR trained personnel and 28 lifeguards since the start of the “Health in Tourism Program” on March 24, 2015. The target is to have at least 500 trained personnel. “The objective is to ensure safety of the public and also provide proper rescue in times of need,” Janairo added.
The Marinduque WASAR training was made possible through the efforts of the Office of the Vice Governor Romulo A. Bacorro, Jr. who coordinated and organized the participants in the province.
Janairo assured that a second batch of WASAR training will be conducted in order to have an adequate water trained personnel in the province to serve the more than 235 thousand residents of Marinduque.
The regional office provided a rescue buoy, rashguard and certificate of completion was given to each of the successful trainees.
Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) training is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. Under the law, the PCG has the sole authority to provide WASAR and lifeguard training in the country.
