The Municipality of Burgos, La Union headed by 𝐇𝐎𝐍 DELFIN C. COMEDIS, JR., Municipal Mayor, further strengthened its disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities as representatives from the different barangays of the municipality, members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) and personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) successfully completed the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Executive Course and Incident Command System (ICS) Executive Course hosted by the Office of Civil Defense Regional Office I (OCD-R1) on June 4-5, 2026 at Hotel Ariana, Bauang, La Union.

The training aimed to enhance the leadership, coordination and decision-making capabilities of local officials and emergency responders in managing emergencies and disasters. Participants were provided with a comprehensive understanding of emergency operations, incident management, command structures, coordination mechanisms and response protocols necessary for effective disaster management.

The activity highlighted the importance of a unified and organized approach to disaster response, emphasizing the critical role of coordination among barangays, municipal level, response agencies, and partner stakeholders in ensuring the safety and well-being of communities during emergencies.

The Local Government Unit of Burgos, La Union expressed its sincere gratitude to Office of Civil Defense Regional Office I for selecting Burgos, La Union as one of the recipients of these executive-level capacity-building trainings. The municipality recognized the significance of the training in strengthening the preparedness and response capabilities of local leaders and responders, enabling them to effectively perform their roles before, during and after disaster events.

During the closing ceremony, 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐂. 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀, Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operations of the Office of Civil Defense and Acting Regional Director of OCD Regional Office I, delivered his closing remarks and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge and skills they gained throughout the training. He emphasized that the concepts learned from the Emergency Operation Center Executive Course and Incident Command System Executive Course should contribute to establishing clear command structures, ensuring the dissemination of accurate and timely information and promoting coordinated actions among barangays, municipal authorities, response agencies and other stakeholders.

ASEC. Mina also urged participants to sustain their preparedness efforts by regularly conducting drills, testing communication plans and review emergency response procedures together with their respective Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMCs) and partner agencies. He reminded the participants that while knowledge and skills are important, effective action during actual emergencies ultimately saves lives and protects communities. He further assured the participants that OCD Regional Office I remains committed to supporting local government units through mentoring, simulation exercises, technical assistance and other capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening local disaster risk reduction and management systems.

The successful conduct of the Emergency Operation Center Executive Course and Incident Command System Executive Course demonstrates the strong partnership between OCD Regional Office I, the Municipality of Burgos, the barangays, BFP, MDRRMC member agencies and other stakeholders in building a culture of preparedness and resilience.

Through these initiatives, Burgos, La Union continues to strengthen its disaster risk reduction and management efforts, ensuring that local leaders, responders and communities are better prepared to respond effectively and work together during times of emergencies and disasters.