Bontoc, Mountain Province – Trained responders in this capital town underwent a three-day Refresher Course on Rope Rescue Operations to further enhance their knowledge, skills and competencies.
The participants are members of the Bontoc Emergency Response Team (BERT) and community volunteer emergency responders to include the Samoki Mountain Search and Rescue Team, School ERT of the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School (MPGCHS), and some students of the Mountain Province State University under the College of Criminal Justice Education undergoing internship at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The training, which started today, November 25, 2025 and concluded on November 27, 2025, aimed to evaluate, enhance and reinforce skills previously acquired by the participants with particular focus on polishing competencies essential during emergency response operations. The facilitators were personnel from the BFP and Hazzley S. Vergara, who is a member of the BERT.
In his message, Sangguniang Bayan Member Seichi Ofo-ob who is also the Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) remarked that the activity is designed to refresh the participants on the use of ropes but they should keep in mind that safety is the main priority.
“We are knowledgeable on the use of ropes but we always have an open mind. We help each other to teach and to be taught these skills,” Ofo-ob added.
Also, he reminded the participants to take the training seriously.
The training was initiated and funded by the Bontoc LGU through the Municipal DRRM Office. The implementation of the three-day training is in collaboration with the Bontoc Municipal Fire Station. **Alpine Killa-Malwagay & Meilynne Shalom Ayan, Bontoc LGU
