First aid and basic life support Olympic set

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- Nine rescue teams from various parts of Central Luzon are set to battle it out on Thursday the fifth Regional First Aid and Basic Life Support Olympic here.

According to Vicente Tolentino, civil defense coordinator and operations chief of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Law Enforcement Department, the event will showcase the skills of different rescue teams from different parts of Central Luzon.

"This is an event that will sharpen their skills in certain situation that they (rescuers) can only respond to," Tolentino said.

He added that the event is also in line with the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.

Edward Gruezo, deputy chief of the Subic Disaster Management Committee, said rescue teams from Nueva Ecija, Palayan City, Tarlac City, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, SBMA and Bulacan are expected to participate in the event.

Gruezo added that they are targeting a total of 18 participants from different province and cities in the region, aside from the nine teams that have already confirmed their participation, to join this event.

Expected to grace the occasion is Police Regional Director Errol Pan, who is also the chairman of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC).

The yearly event is organized by the RDCC and the Office of the Civil Defense headed by Neri Amparo. By Anthony Bayarong - SunStar