Caraganon rescuers awarded for first-ever reg’l ‘Rescuelympics’ win
By Niña Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga recognized the contingents of the first-ever Rescuelympics in the region with an awarding ceremony as they culminated the 2025 National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) on July 30 in Butuan City.
The Rescuelympics, conducted on July 23 at the Caraga State University (CSU) – main campus, brought together six provincial rescue teams from across the region to compete in a series of high-stakes emergency response simulations.
Among the contenders for the said competition were the Agusan del Norte Emergency Response Team (ADNERT), Search and Rescue Agusan Sur (SARAS), Abante Surigao Search and Rescue Team (ASSERT), Search and Emergency Response Team of Surigao del Sur (SERTSS), Dinagat Islands Search and Rescue (DISAR), and the All-Hazards Local Incident Management Action Team (ALIMAT) of Butuan City.
The competition featured three core categories: medical rescue, fire suppression, and high-angle or rope rescue — each designed to test the technical proficiency, speed, and coordination of the participating teams.
The event served as a platform to showcase the operational readiness of local responders and reinforce the importance of accurate and timely execution of rescue procedures in disaster scenarios.
According to OCD Caraga Capacity Building and Training Section Head Marc Gil P. Calang, the activity formed part of OCD’s marching order to promote Rescuelympics in order to check the skills and execution of the respective provincial DRRM responders should the threat of disasters arise in the future.
“Through this [Rescuelympics], we were able to revisit the skills of our responders and also checked the fundamentals of rescue such as basic life support, standard first aid, basic fire suppression, and rope rescue. This will help us evaluate the performance of our provincial responders as a basis for possible skills enhancement programs in the future,” said Calang.
The awarding ceremony recognized the top-performing teams based on their execution, adaptability, and response time. Team ALIMAT of Butuan City was declared the overall champion for this year’s Rescuelympics, winning first place in all the rescue categories.
The Surigao del Sur rescue team won second place, while Surigao del Norte placed third in the competition. Although the final rankings were not disclosed publicly, all participating teams were commended for their dedication and professionalism.
The Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Chairperson Lorene S. Catedral, also the regional director of OCD Caraga, commended the outstanding performance of the winners of the said competition as she delivered her message during the 2025 NDRM culmination program and awarding ceremony.
“Your life-saving skills, teamwork, and passion are not only commendable but essential in times of emergencies. More than the medals and plaques, you have shown what it means to serve with courage, compassion, and competence,” she said.
“To the non-winners, beyond the awards, stands your selfless dedication to serve a sacred vocation and a calling in itself,” added Dir. Catedral.
The event also highlighted the broader theme of the 2025 NDRM: “Kumikilos Para sa Kahandaan, Kaligtasan, at Katatagan.” Throughout July, OCD Caraga led various activities including simulation drills, public education campaigns, and capacity-building workshops to promote a culture of preparedness across the region.
With the successful launch of the regional Rescuelympics, OCD Caraga affirmed its commitment to institutionalizing the competition as an annual event to continuously enhance the capabilities of local responders and foster a resilient Caraga. (NJGD/PIA Caraga)
