In preparation for the Emergency Medical Simulation Exercise under Project MedX, A-PAD Philippines, in partnership with the City of San Fernando Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CSFPDRRMO) and the Office of Civil Defense Region III (OCD-III), conducted executive-level training on the Incident Command System (ICS) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for key stakeholders across Central Luzon.
The ICS Executive Course was held on April 29, followed by the EOC Executive Course on May 28, 2026, at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel. The sessions brought together A-PAD PH, partner organizations, and emergency management stakeholders to strengthen command and coordination mechanisms ahead of the simulation exercise.
“I am confident that the knowledge and insights you have gained will not only strengthen your individual capabilities but also contribute significantly to building safer, more organized, and more resilient communities. May you continue to serve with excellence, integrity, and a strong sense of duty to the communities we are committed to protect,” said Shelby A. Ruiz, Officer-in-Charge and Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense Region III (OCD-III).
Designed as preparatory courses for Project MedX, the training established a common understanding of incident command structures, emergency operations protocols, and interagency coordination, ensuring participating organizations are better equipped to respond cohesively during large-scale emergencies and mass casualty incidents.
Project MedX is the flagship emergency medical preparedness program of A-PAD Philippines, designed to strengthen multi-sector coordination and emergency medical response through capacity building and realistic simulation exercises.
Building the command foundation: ICS Executive Course
The ICS Executive Course opened with a course overview before moving through five modules: Introduction to ICS; ICS Organization and Staffing; ICS Facilities; Managing Planned Events and Major Incidents; and Common Responsibilities. Experiential learning activities reinforced the content — a sorting game explored chain of command and operational structures, while a physical mapping exercise challenged participants to lay out a disaster scene, including the Incident Command Post, helipads, staging areas, and other ICS-designated locations.
At the closing session, Ms. Athea Peñaloza, Executive Director of A-PAD Philippines, expressed gratitude to OCD for the training opportunity and its continued support. OCD Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Shelby Ruiz delivered closing remarks emphasizing the importance of multi-agency collaboration during disasters, and declared all participants graduates of the ICS course, awarding certificates of completion.
Operationalizing coordination: EOC Executive Course
Building on the foundations laid in April, the EOC Executive Course deepened participants’ understanding of emergency operations management. Five modules were delivered: Introduction to Emergency Operations Centers; a Review of the Incident Command System; a Review of Response Clusters; EOC Interoperability; and EOC Organization and Staffing. Key themes included the critical role of emergency managers, the cluster approach to humanitarian response, and the practical structure and functions of an EOC.
Hands-on learning activities grounded the course in practical application. An interactive sorting activity reinforced command, order, and teamwork toward a shared objective, while a “Bring Me” activity simulated real-time request management, resource allocation, and distribution — skills that will be directly exercised during the field activity. Once again, OIC Shelby Ruiz formally closed the session, declaring participants graduates and highlighting the importance of community-wide solidarity in disaster response.
Taken together, the two trainings form a coherent capacity-building sequence — from understanding the command structure to operationalizing how coordination functions — that directly supports the design and execution of Project MedX’s Emergency Medical Simulation Exercise.
A-PAD Philippines continues to support multi-agency preparedness and training initiatives in Central Luzon. Organizations and institutions interested in collaboration or coordination may reach out to A-PAD PH to support collective disaster readiness efforts in the region.