OCD to endorse ERUF as an int’l response body

CEBU, Philippines -  The Office of the Civil Defense-Central Office will be endorsing the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation for an accreditation as an international response body seeing its capability in trainings and equipment.

Director Romeo Fajardo, OCD deputy administrator, said that not a single response group in the country has been accredited yet internationally.

“We have many rescue-volunteered groups but it is noted that none response group in the Philippines is accredited and we hope that ERUF will be qualified as the first Filipino group,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo said they wanted to reciprocate the help other countries have done in the Philippines like responding to victims of typhoon Yolanda that devastated the Visayas including northern Cebu in November last year.

“We are anticipating that with the rigorous trainings and complete equipment of the ERUF, I know they are capable,” he said.

Dr. Jesus Ravanes, ERUF Board of Trustee said they will not expect too much, though.

“We can try but we won’t expect because it is difficult to attain. We have to be complete in engineering and manpower and we don’t expect that the host cities would provide everything for us,” Ravanes said.

He added that ERUF personnel may be trained in urban search and rescue operations internationally but this would not be enough compared to other countries’ trainings.

“Imagine that out of 100 trainees we had at the start, only five of them continued the training because some of them backed out kay wala na kakaya, and we even do not ask for payment in our services except for donations given from hospitals,” Ravanes added.

ERUF has yet to receive its P5 million subsidy from the Cebu City government.

But despite the lack of funds, the group has committed to continue its service to the people in Metro Cebu areas.

“We will still respond to alarms hoping that sooner or later, we will receive the budget, but as of this time, we’ll utilize our resources,” said Ravanes.

ERUF’s subsidy is used in trainings and seminars as well as in the procurement of equipment, making its personnel capable in handling and responding to search, rescue, and retrieval operations during calamities.

The group currently has at least 100 personnel who are trained in responding to different incidents, including airplane crash and seawater tragedies.  (FREEMAN)