Diane Hora | iMINDSPH
Maguindanao del Norte — Thirty members (30) of the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST), coming from Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Colombio, Sultan Kudarat, undergo disaster response, search, and rescue training.
The week-long training is taking place at the training school of the 6th Infantry Division in Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Sur, which commenced on January 28.
The JPST comprises contingents from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
Col. Roberto Huet, a GPH Joint Peace and Security Council member, emphasized the importance of equipping JPST members with knowledge in disaster response training and swift response to natural and man-made disasters amidst the changing environment.
“Sa BARMM, kung saan tayo nanganganib ng mga natural na kalamidad, isama na natin ang human-induced, sinabi na tao rin ang may gawa. Ang pangangailangan sa mabisang pagtugon ay lubos na kritikal. Mula sa bagyo, earthquake, “rido” na kadalasan na nagreresulta sa tinatawag na bakwit, kinakaharap natin ang ibang mga panganib…at mahalaga ang isang maayos at nagkakaisang pagtugon,” he said.
The training program includes drills on responding to landslide and earthquake incidents, basic rescue knot tying, swift water rescue, defensive swimming, and river-crossing.
“Nakaupo kayo rito sa harap ng isang marangal na tungkulin. Hindi kayo dumating dito bilang mga sundalo kundi bilang mga tagapag-alaga. Hindi bilang mga mananakop kundi bilang mga tagapagpagaling. Dumating kayo hindi upang marating ang kaaway ngunit upang harapin ang mismong pwersa ng kalikasan,” added LtCol. Benjie Dinurog, assistant commandant of the 6DTS.
The establishment of the JPST is part of the normalization track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Their role includes ensuring the security of residents within the mutually agreed areas of the government and MILF.
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