On September 24-25, 2024, the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) conducted a comprehensive two-day Emergency Preparedness Planning (EPP) training at the Vargas Museum in UP Diliman. The training aimed to equip the faculty and staff of the museum with vital skills in disaster preparedness and response, ensuring the museum’s readiness in the event of emergencies.
Associate Professor Tessa Maria Guazon, the curator of Vargas Museum, opened the program with a warm welcome, underscoring the importance of preparedness for the institution’s staff. UPRI was represented by Chief Science Research Specialist Jose Abraham Ongkiko, who led the discussions, alongside his team of Junior Project Assistants: Jerzyne Anne Corpuz, Franklin Joshua Gali, and Jonathan David Maligalig.
The first day of the workshop delved into the principles of emergency preparedness, starting with Mr. Ongkiko’s overview of Emergency Preparedness Planning, followed by Mr. Maligalig’s presentation on the purpose and scope of the preparedness plan. Hands-on discussions included hazard identification, risk assessment, and the continuity of operations through Mission Essential Functions (MEFs). A key part of the day was the training on organizing the Incident Command System (ICS), which is crucial for coordinating response efforts during a disaster.
An unexpected yet highly practical component of the training was the unannounced fire and earthquake drills, which gave the museum staff the chance to apply what they learned in real-time. The staff was even given the opportunity to extinguish a controlled fire during a hands-on demonstration of proper fire extinguisher use. These drills highlighted the importance of swift, coordinated action during emergencies.
On the second day, the program focused on emergency communication strategies, with Ms. Corpuz discussing protocols and essential tools for maintaining operations during crises. Mr. Gali took charge of a session on activation and deactivation protocols, ensuring that staff members know how to act swiftly in different scenarios. The day also included practical sessions led by Mr. Ongkiko on basic disaster preparedness techniques, covering family evacuation plans, hand and light signals, whistle signals, and essential go-bag items.
The training concluded with a discussion on future preparedness measures and a workshop that allowed participants to collaborate on refining the museum’s existing emergency protocols.
Associate Professor Guazon closed the event by expressing her gratitude to UPRI for their invaluable contributions to strengthening the preparedness of Vargas Museum.