In a significant move to bolster community safety, all 27 village chiefs of Maimbung, Sulu have completed an intensive Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Orientation aimed at strengthening local disaster preparedness capabilities.
Collaborative Disaster Preparedness Initiative
The day-long training session was conducted on Wednesday, November 12 at the Maimbung Municipal Hall, bringing together barangay leaders and community stakeholders. The orientation represented a collaborative effort between the municipal government, the 1103rd Infantry Brigade (1103Bde), the Office of Civil Defense-Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Sulu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
According to military officials who announced the completion of the training on Friday, November 14, the program specifically targeted enhancing local awareness and preparedness while promoting a culture of safety across Maimbung's communities.
Comprehensive Disaster Management Curriculum
Expert resource speakers from OCD-Zamboanga Peninsula and PDRRMO-Sulu facilitated comprehensive discussions covering essential DRRM concepts and frameworks. Participants engaged with critical topics including:
- The Philippine DRRM framework and its local implementation
- Hazard identification and risk assessment methodologies
- Community-level disaster planning strategies
- Local response mechanism improvements
The orientation featured interactive discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions that encouraged barangay leaders to assess their communities' specific vulnerabilities and identify practical strategies for enhancing disaster response capabilities.
Commitment to Community Resilience
Following the day-long orientation, participants demonstrated strong commitment to cascading their learnings within their respective barangays and sustaining local preparedness efforts. The training attracted a diverse group of stakeholders beyond the village chiefs, including members of the Municipal DRRM Council, local emergency responders, civil society organizations, and representatives from various government agencies and the private sector.
The 1103Bde confirmed that this initial training will be followed by a three-day Incident Command System (ICS) Level 1 Training, designed to equip local responders with operational knowledge for effective disaster response coordination. This continuing education initiative underscores the ongoing commitment to building disaster-resilient communities throughout Maimbung, Sulu.
