PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here on Wednesday urged the provincial government to help train village watchmen or barangay tanod in disaster response.
Board Member David Ponce de Leon said training the barangay tanod, also known as barangay safety officers, on being “first responders” would help Palawan’s 433 barangays (villages) in 23 municipalities in addressing deficiencies in some aspects of disaster risk reduction management.
Ponce de Leon has filed a resolution calling for the capacity-building and training of the village watchmen to be better prepared during calamities.
“There is a need for the barangays all over the province, through their barangay tanod, to enhance and strengthen their capacities as first disaster responders as they are strategically situated for the provision of emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after disasters or calamities within the jurisdiction of their respective barangays,” Ponce de Leon said.
The board member said first responders are people trained to provide basic medical care to patients until the advance one can be provided.
“Since they also respond first when there are incidents or disasters in their barangays, they must be equipped with necessary disaster response skills, such as emergency first aid and the likes,” he added.
These skills training seminars can best be done in coordination with relevant government agencies like the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard , Philippine National Red Cross, and others. (PNA)
