VSU officials undergo Executive Course on Incident Command System

To enhance the university’s disaster and crisis response capabilities, officials of the Visayas State University (VSU) recently participated in a comprehensive Executive Course on the Incident Command System (ICS) held on September 10, 2024, at the RDE Hall.

This training was spearheaded by the university’s Learning Development and Human Resource Accreditation Office (LDHRAO). It was conducted in partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of National Defense - Office of Civil Defense (DND-OCD).

The main purpose of the activity is to bolster the university's preparedness in managing emergencies and responding to natural disasters.

The executive course covered five essential modules, which provided participants with a thorough understanding of the ICS. These modules included: Introduction to ICS, ICS Organization, ICS Facilities, Managing Planned Events and Major Incidents, and Common Responsibilities.

Each of these areas equipped the VSU officials with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead and coordinate disaster response efforts within their respective units.

Each of the modules was presented with practical workshops and scenario-building activities to allow the participating VSU officials to acquire foresight thinking and prompt decision-making capabilities in times of crisis.

The ICS is a standardized approach to managing emergencies, designed to allow different organizations to work together smoothly. The topics covered during the training ensured that the university's officials were better prepared to manage both planned events and unanticipated crises.

The course was facilitated by a team of experienced instructors, including:

1. Mr. Eliot P. Lopez, Jr., Instructor from Catbalogan City, Samar;
2. PMAJ Edgar T. Octaviano (Ret), Instructor from Tacloban City, Leyte;
3. Dr. Ryan Roque Antonio E. Cahambing, DPA, JD, Instructor and LDRRMO II from Maasin City, Southern Leyte; and
4. Dr. Danilo L. Atienza, PhD, MAEd, MCDRM, MPSA, MDP, PDRRM Officer from Southern Leyte.

The program was tailored to provide VSU’s leadership with real-world tools for disaster management, further strengthening the university’s readiness as a critical institution in Eastern Visayas, which is an area frequently affected by typhoons and other calamities.

VSU President, Prof. Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes, expressed the importance of the executive course, emphasizing its role in ensuring safety and preparedness. 

"This training is vital for all of us at VSU. As leaders of the university, we must be equipped to act swiftly and efficiently in times of disaster. The Incident Command System gives us the framework to not only manage risks but to safeguard the welfare of our entire university community," President Yepes said.

Through this training, VSU demonstrates its commitment to disaster risk reduction and management, both within the campus and the larger communities it serves. 

As one of the leading educational institutions in the region, VSU continues to prioritize resilience and disaster preparedness, aligning with national goals set by the NDRRMC and the OCD.

With the knowledge gained from this executive course, VSU officials are now better equipped to ensure that the university remains a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, and staff, especially in the face of potential disasters and possible future crises.

The current VSU administration is currently focusing on providing relevant training and capacity-building opportunities for its new officials as part of the university’s drive to future-proof its systems and operations in the 21st century.

[This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goals: No. 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), No. 13 (Climate Action), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).]

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