BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
PALAWAN (November 13)—This province’s search and rescue and maritime law enforcement operations under the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) received a boost in operations with additional medical training and dive equipment.
The United States Embassy in Manila said 12 sets of dive equipment and emergency medical supplies were turned over by the US Embassy Civil Affairs Team (CAT) to the PCG aboard the MRRV-9701 Teresa Magbanua, the largest vessel in the PCG fleet.
US Embassy CAT leader Capt. Stephen Coleman said they are honored to continue working with the PCG in Palawan “to ensure that all crew members are prepared to respond to various maritime situations.”
Led by the US Embassy CAT, the equipment turnover on November 5 marked the culmination of a five-day medical training to enhance the PCG’s trauma care and lifesaving capabilities during maritime security operations.
According to the embassy, the training was based on US military guidelines for trauma life support in prehospital combat medicine.
PCG District Palawan commander Commo. Rommel Supangan said the medical first responder training is useful to their personnel in the PCG district in Palawan and important for the Special Operations Group (SOG) members.
The SOG members, whose training gives them more knowledge to enable them to fulfill their missions, are the first responders during emergencies, including humanitarian response and disaster relief operations.
As part of US efforts to build shared capabilities with partner nations around the world, the US Embassy CATs in the Philippines have collaborated with local government units, and provincial disaster risk reduction and management offices.
It also collaborated with the PCG on several initiatives, including disaster preparedness, medical first responder training and support for local Covid-19 response.