ILOILO City – To build a more resilient community, the city government has launched the Kabataang Emergency Champions program, aimed at training young people to become skilled emergency responders.
This initiative is a collaboration between the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), the Technical Institute of Iloilo City (TIIC), and local government authorities.
Maria Mathilde Treñas, administrator of TIIC, emphasized the importance of targeting the youth demographic, noting that their youthful energy and quick learning ability make them ideal candidates for emergency response training.
“We target them because they are still young, and they can easily respond in times of emergency,” she said.
The program, designed for individuals aged 15 to 35, offers a comprehensive 40-hour training curriculum. Participants will undergo both classroom sessions and hands-on experience through on-the-job training with industry partners. The training includes essential topics such as disaster risk reduction, emergency medical response, first aid, life support, and disaster preparedness.
“We have an ongoing training on emergency medical response at the TIIC, so we will maximize it so that in times of emergency, we will not panic because we have our youth who can help us,” Treñas explained, underscoring the value of preparedness in the face of unforeseen events. The program adheres to the guidelines set by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the training.
In a formal ceremony held on February 17, the TIIC, SK, and the city government sealed their partnership by signing a memorandum of agreement. SK Federation president Jelma Crystel Implica expressed pride in being part of the initiative, highlighting the program’s role in empowering the youth.
“This is a great platform that can encourage our youth to be more participative citizens in DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management) training, for them to become aware and prepared in mitigation and response,” she said.
This new program represents a critical step toward involving young people not only in disaster preparedness but in ensuring that their communities are ready and capable of responding to emergencies when they arise./PN
