To measure the preparedness, management, endurance, and response capability of Camarines Sur’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMOs) and communities in the event of disasters, the Provincial Government, through its Environment, Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO), concluded the Incident Command and Response Challenge, one of the highlights under the 72-Hour Survival Challenge as part of the CamSur Resilience Festival 2026. The event was held on July 29–30, 2026, at the Capitol Complex, Cadlan, Pili.
The competition was joined by Districts 1–5, each composed a team of 35 members from various MDRRMOs across their respective Local Government Units. Teams established a fully equipped Incident Command Post with an Incident Management Team (IMT), complete with communication systems, power supply, tents, a camp setup, rescue vehicles, a PTV, an ambulance, and other essential resources.
The event opened with the Emergency Shelter Construction Challenge, which assessed participating teams’ ability to set up a safe, functional, and organized temporary shelter using limited resources.
Participating teams responded to five scenarios based on a comprehensive series of simulations such as:
A fire broke-out at residential area near central city park
Drowning incident at Lago Del Rey Lake
Trapped victims at old city fire building
Mass Casualty Incident due to vehicular accident at central city park
Missing persons after falling from the capitol city bridge
Dr. Eric Raborar, Medical Chief of the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) and one of the competition’s judges, underscored the importance of the activity, likening it to a medical principle: that continued implementation helps develop, enhance, and improve the skills and capacities of those involved.
“Itong exercise na ito is nakasentro sa leadership. The next 15 minutes will decide the next 5 hours. Kaya ho ‘pag nagkamali ng diskarte ang leader, MDRRMOs, chaotic po ‘yan sa baba. Kaya ho, itong exercise na ito, dun po nakatuon sa mga leaders, on how they decide, on how they analyze the situations,” he said.
Among the participants was Lindel Dan Rivera, Division Head of MDRRMO Sipocot, who shared that the competition marks the province’s first district-level interoperability exercise, strengthening coordination among municipalities in recognition that disasters and emergencies may affect two or more localities and cannot always be managed by a single municipality alone.
He said, “Maganda na napa-practice ‘yong sama-sama, nakikita namin ‘yung mga lapses ng bawat isa, and nagagawan din namin ng mga paraan ‘yung pwede pa naming magawa. And we can see our strengths as well.”
Rivera added, “Sipocot is thankful to the Provincial Government na nabigyan kami ng oportunidad na sumali sa ganito. Napakaganda na merong mga projects and mga activities na ganito. Na-uplift din kami. Nagkakaroon din kami ng kumbaga upbringing sa amin to grow as the head and as a municipality.”
Official Results:
Champion: District 5 (P150,000)
1st Runner-up: District 4 (P100,000)
2nd Runner-up: District 2 (P75,000)
3rd Runner-up: District 1 (P50,000)
4th Runner-up: District 3 (P50,000)
The Provincial Government, together with the judges and organizers, congratulates all participating teams for the successful conduct of the Incident Command and Response Competition. Thank you for showcasing your impressive strengths, skills, and coordination as the province’s emergency responders.
Source: Province of Camarines Sur