Regional rescue jamboree to involve PWD

TACLOBAN CITY – The annual conduct of the Regional Rescue Jamboree (RRJ) in Eastern Visayas takes a different turn this year with the involvement of persons with disability with the launching of Disability-Inclusive Search and Rescue (DiSAR) program.

Dr. Raymund Balverde, founder and overall lead of DiSAR, said the initiative will redefine how emergency operations protect and serve vulnerable populations.

The Regional Rescue Jamboree, to be held this year in Ormoc City on July 17-23, is the largest rescue training event in Eastern Visayas, bringing together 62 registered rescue teams from across the region, with 15 rescuers per team, representing nearly 1,000 emergency responders.

Balverde, who is a past president of the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine, said that it will be the first time in the country wherein rescue operations will formally integrate the principles of Rehabilitation Medicine.

“This will ensure that life-saving efforts go beyond survival to include the preservation of function, dignity, and long-term well-being of persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups, Balverde said. “This innovation signals a major advancement in inclusive disaster preparedness and response in the Philippines.”

The JRR traditionally showcases specialized rescue disciplines such as Water Search and Rescue (WASAR), Mountain Search and Rescue (MOSAR), Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Vehicle Extrication, and AGOS, with participation from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine Army (PA), and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, among other emergency response organizations.

He said the integration of DiSAR highlights the vital role of physiatrists—specialists in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation—and rehabilitation professionals in disaster preparedness and emergency response.

“Their expertise in functional assessment, safe patient handling, transfers, positioning, mobility, assistive devices, prevention of secondary disability, and early rehabilitation provides an important perspective that has traditionally been underrepresented in rescue operations,” Balverde said.

“DiSAR demonstrates how rehabilitation medicine extends beyond hospital-based care by contributing meaningfully to disaster resilience, humanitarian response, and community inclusion,” he added.

The initiative is in time with the observance of the 48th National Disability Rights Week from July 17–23, 2026, with the theme: “Rights First, Legislation Forward – Strategic Action for Equal Participation and Inclusive Development.”