When disasters strike, every second counts. Saving lives depends not only on the speed of emergency response but also on how well responders, hospitals, academe, public and private sectors and humanitarian partners work together.
To strengthen emergency medical preparedness in Central Luzon, A-PAD Philippines, in partnership with the City of San Fernando Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the University of the Assumption (UA), and key government, private sector, academic, and humanitarian partners, successfully conducted PROJECT MedX: Central Luzon Emergency Medical Simulation Exercise (SimEx) Training on July 13–14, 2026. The activity was held in time of the National Disaster Resilience Month.
“This simulation exercise is the result of months of dedication, planning, and close coordination,” said Athea Peñaloza, Executive Director of A-PAD Philippines.
The two-day exercise culminated in a full-scale earthquake simulation in UA grounds, where participants responded to a scenario involving a magnitude 6.8 earthquake. The simulated disaster triggered a mass casualty incident testing emergency medical response, patient transport, hospital surge capacity, and inter-agency coordination under realistic conditions.
For the CDRRMO, conducting simulation exercises in schools has become increasingly important as campuses face not only natural hazards but also emerging security risks.
“In light of recent incidents in schools, this is an opportunity to test our readiness to respond not only to natural hazards but also to human-induced threats,” said Raymond Del Rosario, Head of the City of San Fernando CDRRMO.
UA President Rev. Fr. Oliver G. Yalung, DL, PhD welcomed the opportunity to host the exercise, emphasizing that preparedness remains at the heart of disaster resilience.
“We are proud to support this meaningful initiative because we believe that preparedness saves lives. That is the principle that guides all of us in this activity,” Yalung said.
Strengthening Emergency Medical Systems
The activity forms part of Project MedX (Medical Emergency Simulation Exercise), A-PAD Philippines’ flagship program aimed at strengthening emergency medical preparedness across the country.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) underscored the importance of partnership and a whole-of-society approach in ensuring that communities receive timely, efficient, and life-saving assistance during crises.
“Beyond developing technical skills and operational readiness, this exercise serves as a platform for fostering teamwork, leadership, and the exchange of best practices,” said Shelby Ruiz, Officer-in-Charge of the OCD Region III.
The exercise was observed and evaluated by the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) and UP Manila DRRM-H headed by Dr. Carlos Primero D. Gundran, whose team documented operational observations and lessons learned to help strengthen future emergency medical response systems in the Philippines.
“This is the right venue to make mistakes and learn from them. It is far better to improve during a drill than during a real disaster when lives are at stake,” Gundran said.
Building a More Resilient Philippines
Following the simulation, participating agencies convened for a structured debriefing to evaluate operational performance, identify areas for improvement, and capture lessons that will strengthen future emergency preparedness efforts.
By investing in coordinated planning, regular simulation exercises, and strong multi-sector partnerships, A-PAD Philippines and its partners continue advancing a safer and more disaster-resilient Philippines.
PROJECT MedX was implemented through the collective efforts of government, academic, healthcare, humanitarian, and private sector partners. A-PAD Philippines acknowledges the invaluable contributions of the City of San Fernando CDRRMO, the University of the Assumption, UP Resilience Institute, UP Manila DRRM-H, Jose B. Lingad General Memorial Hospital, GreenCity Medical Center, Mother Teresa of Calcutta Medical Center, Philippine Red Cross Pampanga–Angeles City Chapter, University of the Assumption – College Red Cross Youth Council, Pampanga Medical Society, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine College of Emergency Medicine, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Guardcom, DX3 Cabalen, Our Lady of Fatima University – Pampanga, Unconnected.org, Echelon Eagles Club, CLTV, and the many volunteers and partners whose expertise and commitment made the exercise possible.
“Preparedness cannot be achieved by one organization alone—it requires effective multi-sector collaboration. Through Project MedX, we are strengthening these partnerships today so that we can save more lives tomorrow,” Peñaloza said.
The initiative was made possible through the generous support of the People of Japan through the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD), whose continued commitment is helping strengthen disaster resilience in the Philippines.
Project MedX is more than a simulation exercise—it is a commitment to strengthening emergency medical systems and saving lives through preparedness, coordination, and collective action.