OCD boosts disaster readiness with BICS, EOC training for Caraga RDRRMC members
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga has intensified efforts to advance disaster preparedness and response in the region by conducting a series of trainings for selected focal persons of the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) member-agencies.
Among the courses completed were the Basic Incident Command System (BICS) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) training, both vital frameworks in disaster management.
The BICS provides a standardized approach to incident management, ensuring that responders from different agencies operate under a clear chain of command and shared procedures. This system promotes efficiency, accountability, and interoperability during emergencies.
Meanwhile, the EOC training equips participants with the skills to manage coordination hubs where critical decisions, resource allocation, and information flow are centralized during disasters. Together, these trainings strengthen situational awareness and unified action in times of crisis.
“As DRRM focal persons, we must be equipped with the needed skills and knowledge on the basics of incident management for optimum efficiency in disaster response operations,” said Marc Gil Calang, head of the Capacity Building and Training Section of OCD Caraga.
Participants learned the theories of BICS and EOC operations, reinforced through workshops and simulation exercises, providing a glimpse of real-life scenarios in managing emergencies.
OCD Caraga Acting Regional Director Antonio B. Sugarol emphasized the significance of completing the BICS course, noting its role in integrating responders into the national DRRM network.
“When you complete this [BICS] course, you will earn your certificates with corresponding serial numbers, which will enable you to become a part of the national DRRM network. You will also find yourself getting along with other emergency responders as you now speak the same language,” Sugarol said.
Through these initiatives, OCD Caraga continues to build the capacity of DRRM focal persons, ensuring a more coordinated, efficient, and unified disaster response across the region. (NJGD, PIA Caraga)
