The militaries of the Philippines and Singapore held a table-top exercise aimed at beefing up their coordination and interoperability during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.
The activity, which ran from Wednesday to Thursday, took place at the Office of Civil Defense headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement Friday.
He said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)'s Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC) joined the exercise.
"The exercise aimed to strengthen coordination and enhance interoperability during HADR operations between the AFP, RHCC, and other participating agencies," Trinidad said.
The exercise focused on key objectives, including fostering stronger relationships between the SAF and the AFP, improving joint HADR operations, and promoting the OPERA v2 Computer Information System (CIS) as a vital platform for information sharing and planning.
The activity also aimed to establish robust network linkages and understanding between the AFP, RHCC, SAF, and various Philippine disaster management offices, government agencies, and civilian partners.
After a series of academic leveling lectures, participants worked in a scenario where a magnitude 7.2 earthquake with Intensity VIII struck Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila, which particularly suffered regional isolation.
Before the exercise, participants engaged in virtual pre-exercise academic sessions covering key topics such as the Philippine Risk Reduction and Management System, the Philippine Harmonized National Contingency Plan, the NDRRMC Disaster Response Cluster, the Philippine International Humanitarian Assistance framework, and the OPERA CIS.
One of the key takeaways from the exercise was how it helped both armed forces learn and understand the commonalities and differences in each country’s approach to HADR operations.
It also identified gaps and areas for improvement in disaster response management, paving the way for enhanced cooperation in future joint operations.
The collaboration between the AFP and RHCC, alongside other governmental and non-governmental agencies, ensures a more coordinated and efficient approach to HADR operations, reinforcing the country’s disaster preparedness efforts. (PNA)
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