A delegation from the Duisburg aid organisation I.S.A.R. Germany and the BRH - Federal Association of Rescue Dogs met in Manila with the Philippine fire chief Leonard r Bañago. During the meeting, possibilities were explored for expanding cooperation between German aid organisations and the fire service in the South-East Asian country. The concept for a disaster prevention project was presented.
The concept is part of the „International Disaster and Risk Management“ funding programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Fire service chief Bañago showed an interest in working together. He announced that he would provide intensive support to I.S.A.R. Germany in its work on the Philippines. Cooperation is very important.
As part of the project, the Philippine disaster control authorities are to receive support in disaster management. The plan is to set up an early warning system for the population. This is to be installed in residential areas and alert the population to dangers such as storms or tsunamis. The use of a drone is also planned. This enables the rapid reconnaissance of damaged areas with geo-referenced images and has been specially developed for post-disaster operations. Other components include the emergency medical training of paramedics and the training of rescue dog trainers by the Federal Association of Rescue Dogs.
The I.S.A.R. representatives held further talks in Tacloban in the province of Leyte. These centred on a meeting with the Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and the heads of the fire brigade, police and civil protection in the region. They were also convinced by the planned project and would welcome it if it could be realised in the coming years. The Philippine civil protection experts see a great need for the expansion of disaster management.
The I.S.A.R. Germany project is to be adapted to the requirements in the Philippines at a further meeting in August. In September, several representatives from the country's police, fire brigade and civil protection services will take part in an exercise in Germany. Next year, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research will decide whether the project, which was developed together with the Philippine authorities, will be realised as part of a multi-year funding programme.
There has been an intensive partnership between the fire service in Tacloban and I.S.A.R. Germany for several years now. The contact came about during the operation following Hurricane Haiyan in 2013. At that time, I.S.A.R. Germany provided medical and humanitarian aid in the region. The aid organisation provided support with emergency medical training for the firefighters and with reconstruction following the hurricane.
In the photo from left to right: Phoebe g Delis , Leonard r Bañago, Heiner Fricke, Steven Bayer, Joven Guevarra.