Subic Bay Freeport – The local government units of Hermosa and Abucay, both municipalities in Bataan, underwent the Basic Incident Command System Training of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) at the Mansion Garden Hotel in this Freeport on 30 June 2026.

According to Basic ICS Course Monitor Karl Michael Raymond Marasigan, the said three-day training course is in line with the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 10121), and is spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).

He added that the training aims to strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of participants in effectively managing and responding to emergencies and disaster situations through the Incident Command System.

Top local executives and chiefs Hermosa Mayor Anne Adorable-Inton and Abucay Mayor Erik J. Martel led their contingents to the said three-day training course that provides their disaster responders and emergency management personnel with a standardized, structured framework to coordinate and manage emergency resources effectively.

Mayor Adorable-Inton said that the advantage of having the top executives of their municipalities at the said training is to ensure that necessary measures will be relayed directly thru them by the OCD, ensuring that the needed adjustments will be made as soon as possible.

Hermosa, Bataan is primarily vulnerable to heavy monsoon rains, flash floods, and river overflows, particularly in low-lying villages like Almacen, Daungan, and Pulo. These disasters are often worsened by high tides and damaged dikes along the Almacen River.

With the knowledge gained during the ICS training course, Mayor Anne will now have a better understanding on how to further respond and prevent further disasters from occurring in her jurisdiction.

She said that further training of the MDRRMO, and allotting budget for disaster relief to her constituents are some of the plans the Hermosa mayor is eyeing to implement.

She furthered that the town already has the Hermosa Evacuation Center located at Barangay San Pedro that provides a secure and fully equipped temporary shelter for residents during typhoons, floods, and other disasters.

Meanwhile, Abucay frequently experiences severe flooding and occasional landslides caused by monsoon rains, typhoons, and overflowing rivers. The town is particularly vulnerable to river overflows and inland floods that submerge low-lying areas, sometimes leaving thick mud and displacing residents.

Mayor Martel said that the Basic ICS Training course provides an insight on how to immediately respond to any disaster, adding that the LGU can now easily interact with concerned government agencies during any types of disaster.

He added that this eliminates guesswork and provides a more reliable system that his administration can utilize during any calamities or disaster.