The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved a resolution urging all 61 barangays of the city to organize, strengthen, train and equip Purok-Based Community Auxiliary Teams that can provide immediate community-level assistance during disasters, medical emergencies and public safety incidents, Councilor Caesar Distrito said Friday, August 28.
The resolution, authored by Distrito, calls for the organization of trained volunteers in the different puroks who can serve as the community’s first line of support while waiting for professional responders from the barangay, city government, police, fire, medical and rescue units.
Under the measure, the Purok Community Auxiliary Teams will focus on three principal areas: Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response; First Aid and Basic Life Support; and Peacekeeping and Public Safety Assistance.
Distrito stressed that during emergencies, the first few minutes can be critical, making it important to have trained volunteers already present within the community who know what to do before professional responders arrive.
“Our goal is to bring preparedness and immediate response closer to our people. In every purok, we want trained volunteers who can assist during disasters, administer basic first aid or CPR when necessary, help in evacuation, and immediately coordinate with the proper authorities during emergencies and public safety incidents. In many situations, the first few minutes can save lives,” Distrito said.
The resolution encourages the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), City Health Office (CHO), Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other concerned agencies and organizations to develop or provide standardized training programs for members of the auxiliary teams.
Training may include disaster preparedness, early warning and evacuation procedures, basic search and rescue support, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Basic Life Support (BLS), proper handling of injured persons, community peacekeeping, neighborhood watch, incident reporting, crowd management and other appropriate emergency and public safety skills.
The teams may also serve as additional “eyes and ears” within their communities by promptly reporting crimes, disturbances, suspicious activities and public safety hazards to Barangay Tanods, the BCPO and other proper authorities. Their peacekeeping role, however, will remain supportive, preventive and coordinative and will not grant members police powers beyond those authorized by law.
Barangays are likewise encouraged to provide their respective teams, subject to available resources and applicable government budgeting, accounting and auditing rules, with basic equipment such as first-aid kits, go bags, flashlights, whistles, reflective vests, communication equipment, identification cards or uniforms, and other necessary emergency and public safety equipment.*
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