BAGUIO CITY — In disaster response, preparation is not optional. Recognizing that emergencies  happen without warning, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) Disaster Response Management Division – Preparedness for Disaster Response Section (DRMD-PDRS), continues to strengthen the preparedness of its personnel through proactive capacity-building initiatives.

DRMD-PDRS gathered Safety Officers, Drill Officers, and other disaster response personnel from the FO and Social Welfare and Development Offices in the region to enhance their understanding of emergency preparedness and response protocols in a blended orientation (face-to-face and via Video Teleconference) on 09 June 2026. 

Resource speaker from the Office of Civil Defense Cordillera Operations Officer Arianie Christie Atolba  shared key insights on disaster risk reduction and management frameworks, emphasizing the role of drills and exercises in strengthening institutional readiness.

Participants learned different types of emergency exercises, including discussion-based and operations-based drills, designed to test response systems, assess preparedness plans, and identify gaps before actual emergencies occur.  It  covered the legal and operational frameworks governing disaster response, including Republic Act 10121, the Incident Command System, Emergency Operations Center, and the Cluster Approach.

A key focus of the orientation was the importance of properly designing and developing  purposeful, well-organized, and measurable drills, which serve as essential tools  for evaluating response capabilities and improving coordination during emergencies.

“Disasters do not wait for us to be ready — and that is exactly why we must be. When the ground shakes, it is already too late to prepare. The only time we have is now” DSWD FO CAR OIC-Regional Director Enrique H. Gascon, Jr. said.

As  Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Vice Chair for Disaster Response, DSWD FO CAR continues to build a culture of preparedness and resilience, ensuring that personnel are equipped to respond effectively and  deliver timely assistance to disaster-affected communities. Through  sustained learning and preparedness efforts, the agency reinforces its mission of  providing responsive and efficient humanitarian assistance when communities need it most.

Because in disaster response, the rehearsal is not a formality. It is the lifeline. #Novelle Gumuang Ongat, Information Officer for Disaster Response Management Division