BAYBAY CITY– The inclusion of women in this year’s Regional Rescue Jamboree (RRJ) in Eastern Visayas marks a significant step forward in promoting gender equality and inclusivity in disaster response and emergency management.

Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio, Deputy Administrator for Operations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), praised the region’s proactive move to include women in each team, calling it a meaningful stride in supporting the government’s Gender and Development (GAD) program.

“This is not merely symbolic—it’s transformative. When we ensure that women are equally engaged in preparedness and response, we build systems that are more representative, effective, and inclusive,” ASec Idio said during the closing program of the six-day event held from July 13 to 18 in Baybay City.

The 9th RRJ gathered over 1,000 participants from local government units and uniformed services across the region.

Among them were Jian Pabunan from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Paranas, Samar; Eloisa Tarrayo and Lenie Ela from the MDRRMO of Mondragon, Northern Samar—three women who stood out in a male-dominated field.

Pabunan, who led her team to victory in the Aircraft Marshaling and Parachute Landing event during the breakout session of the Air-to-Ground Operation Support (AGOS) training, shared her pride and nervousness in taking on the challenge.

“Nakakaproud pero grabe rin ang pressure dahil ako ang team leader at first time ko sumali sa breakout session ng AGOS,” she said. “Babae ako, hindi babae lang. I focused on doing my job well—and we won.”

Pabunan, a criminology graduate and job order employee, said she felt at home in the field despite its male dominance. “Women can bring unique skills to the table and succeed even in tough environments,” she added.

Eloisa Tarrayo, a mother and full-time employee under the MDRRMO training division, echoed similar sentiments. She chose to undergo Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training and emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing in local disaster preparedness.

“Being a woman is not a limitation. If men can train in first aid and rescue, so can women,” Tarrayo said. “We’re just as capable.”

Lenie Ela, a licensed teacher and volunteer responder from Mondragon, joined the jamboree while waiting for her appointment in the Department of Education. Previously a job order worker with the LGU, Ela chose to volunteer in the meantime to gain practical skills.

“Training in emergency response helps not only during disasters but even in daily life as a teacher. You gain life-saving skills that prevent accidents and help others,” Ela said.

The 9th RRJ was designed to sharpen the skills of emergency responders through both simulated and real-world training, including trauma care, high-angle rescue, water rescue, hazardous materials awareness, and interoperability in radio communications. Specialized sessions such as explosive ordnance disposal, air-to-ground coordination, and collapsed structure search and rescue were also featured.

The event closed with a rescue challenge among participating teams. The Philippine Public Safety College MCDRRM Batch 9, Class Masarig emerged as champion in the men-in-uniform and national agency category, followed by Joint Task Group Tacloban.
In the local government category:

Ormoc City Rescue Team won the highly urbanized/city category, with PDRRMO Northern Samar as runner-up.

Laoang, Northern Samar topped the 1st–3rd class municipality category, followed by Paranas, Samar.

Sta. Margarita, Samar won in the 4th–6th class municipality category, with Julita, Leyte placing second.

Anchored on the theme “Preparing as One, Responding as One: Strengthening Collaboration in Building Community Resiliency”, this year’s RRJ reinforced the critical role of unity, training, and inclusivity in building disaster-resilient communities.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-Four fishermen from Abuyog, Leyte were apprehended for illegal fishing in the municipal waters of Barangay Hingatungan, Silago, Southern Leyte early Wednesday morning, July 16.

Authorities said the suspects were caught in the act of conducting illegal fishing activities at around 12:50 a.m. during a joint operation by the local police and personnel from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Silago.

The arrested individuals were identified only by their aliases: “Junie,” 22, single; “Dinoy,” 49, married; “Jano,” 26; and “Ryan,” 38, married. All are residents of Barangay Bahay, Abuyog.

Confiscated from their possession were two motorized fishing pump boats valued at approximately P160,000, and fishing nets worth an estimated P240,000.

The suspects and the seized equipment were brought to the Silago Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and disposition, pending the filing of appropriate charges.

Local authorities reiterated their warning that illegal fishing operations will not be tolerated as they endanger marine biodiversity and violate existing environmental laws.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – Government troops recovered a cache of explosives and medical supplies in Barangay Canlobo, Pinabacdao town, Samar, believed to have been left behind by remnants of the dismantled Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Friday, July 18.

The seizure, carried out by soldiers from the 63rd Infantry Battalion, was made possible through information provided by concerned residents of the village, signaling continued community support for the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the troops discovered items including four high-explosive rifle grenades, one hand grenade, one improvised explosive device (IED), three remote-controlled IEDs, two portable generators, and two SIM cards.

Also recovered were several medical items such as six IV cannulas, 17 packs of syringes, 10 catheters, two IV fluids, a digital blood pressure monitor, and 14 surgical gloves—indicating that sick or elderly insurgents may have been hiding in the area.

“We know that many of you are struggling, and some are suffering from serious illnesses,” BGen. Vestuir said, addressing the remaining members of the NPA. “Don’t waste the opportunity being offered by the government. Now is the time to return to the fold of the law and live a peaceful life.”

Aside from the explosives and medical gear, troops also retrieved 15 notebooks, seven hard drives, and various subversive documents which are now being analyzed for further intelligence.

B/Gen. Vestuir thanked the residents of Barangay Canlobo for their cooperation and urged them to continue supporting government efforts to end the local communist armed conflict in the region.

Authorities have intensified clearing operations in Samar province, which has long been considered a stronghold of communist insurgency in Eastern Visayas. The military believes that with continuous community cooperation, the few remaining NPA elements in the area can soon be neutralized.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)