Nearly 160 personnel from Philippine government agencies, military units and emergency response organizations joined search-and-rescue and hazardous materials training in Eastern Visayas under Pacific Partnership 2026.
A total of 79 personnel participated in Urban Search and Rescue training that began 14 September in Tacloban City, aimed at improving technical skills and coordination during disasters and other emergencies.
Participants came from the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, disaster risk reduction and management offices in Ormoc and Tacloban, Army reservists and the U.S. Navy.
The training covered search and location techniques, rope operations, knot tying, victim packaging, line-pattern and cross-pattern searches, ascending and descending rope courses, mechanical advantage systems and hauling techniques.
Organizers said the exercises were designed to improve interoperability among military, law enforcement, maritime and civilian disaster response units during operations requiring specialized search-and-rescue capabilities.
Separately, 83 personnel completed a two-day Hazardous Materials training from 14 to 15 September at the MacArthur Park Resort and Convention Center in Palo, Leyte.
The HAZMAT training brought together personnel from the Army, Air Force, BFP, Coast Guard, PNP, local disaster response offices and the U.S. Navy.
The exercises focused on strengthening interagency coordination and improving responders' ability to work together during incidents involving hazardous materials and other emergencies.
Pacific Partnership is a multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission led by the U.S. Pacific Fleet with regional partners and government agencies.
Organizers said the 2026 activities are intended to strengthen disaster preparedness, interoperability and coordination among participating organizations while building relationships that can be activated during humanitarian emergencies.
