ORMOC CITY – Disasters or mass-casualty incidents are uncommon events; hence, to enhance emergency preparedness, a Mass Casualty Incident Full-Scale Emergency Simulation Exercise was carried out in this city on the morning of April 4, 2025.
The said activity was organized by the Local Government Unit of Ormoc, through its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and Health Emergency Management Service (HEMS), which highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and response since it is an essential part of Ormoc City’s emergency preparedness initiatives meant to improve and speed-up reaction times in the case of significant real-life major incidents, calamities, and accidents.
Accordingly, the use of a simulation is an ideal training modality in full-scale exercises, as it immerses the participants in a replication of the actual environment where they can respond to simulated casualties in accordance with existing protocols. As part of the said activity, an evacuation and advance medical post were set up at Robinsons Place Ormoc.
Meanwhile, critical locations for said simulation included Western Leyte College’s Nursing Building, City College of Ormoc, and Ormoc City Hall.
On the other hand, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was situated at the CDRRMO-HEMS Operations Center.
The activity was successfully carried out through the efforts of other government agencies such as the 8th Regional Community Defense Group (8RCDG) of the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Ormoc, Traffic Enforcement and Management (TEAM) Office, Civil Security Unit (CSU), City Health Department (CHD), General Services Department (GSD), Office of the Building Official (OBO), and City Engineer’s Office (CEO).
Prime hospitals in the city also participated in the simulation, which included Gatchalian Medical Center, Ormoc District Hospital, Ormoc Doctors Hospital, and OSPA-Farmers Medical Center.
Local organizations also took part in the simulation, such as the Kabalikat Civicom Ormoc Chapter and Community Public and Rapid Intervention Motorcycle Team (CPR-RIMT) Rapid Rescuers. (By Gwen Maurillo / EV Mail March 31-April 6, 2025 issue)
