The DILG-NCR conducted a Coaches’ Training on the Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) persons in the NCR. The three-day event, which ran from August 17 to 19, 2022 was conducted via Zoom and participated in by focal persons from all 17 cities and lone municipality comprising the NCR.

The participants were composed of Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officers, Social Welfare Development Officers, Civil Registrars, Personnel from the Local Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), General Services Officers, and DILG-NCR Focal Persons for Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Change Adaptation.

The training activity, designed by the Local Government Academy (LGA), in partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), aimed to impart to the participants the knowledge, skills, and overall understanding of the policies and guidelines governing MDM, including the management of bereaved families of victims resulting from a mass casualty event, the system supports for operations, reportorial requirements, the Incident Command System, and the roles and responsibilities of different entities under the MDM cluster.

The training proper was divided into nine modules and delivered by seven subject matter experts from various government agencies, namely: Retired Coast Guard Commodore Fran Eden, TSG Jake Belino (Philippine Air Force), PCol. Joseph C. Palmero, MD (PNP), Atty. Anne Bernadette A. Mendiola (COMELEC), Ms. Rizaline A. Sta Ines (DSWD- DRMB), Mr. Felix Victor Palacio (Office of Civil Defense), Mr. Robin E. Lim (DILG-CODIX).

In her message, DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes Agustin L. Agustin, CESO III, expressed her sentiments on the grave and somber subject matter of the training by giving perspectives both from the standpoint of bereaved families and MDM responders, saying: “…we should never lose sight of the fact that each casualty, whether dead or missing, is a human tragedy that represents real pain and loss to those left behind.” RD Agustin also advised responders in an MDM situation to “…take care of yourselves as you take care of others.”