20 dogs undergo search, rescue training for disaster operations

FUTURE RESCUERS. They look cute and tiny now but these 20 puppies are training in Ligao City, Albay to become effective in search and rescue operations during disasters in the future. Photo by Michael Jaucian, Inquirer Southern Luzon

LIGAO CITY––The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard are training 20 Belgian Malinois and Jack Russel terriers to turn them into searchers and rescuers during disasters.

“We want to be ready at all times when it comes to responding to emergencies particularly during the search, retrieval, and rescue operations,” Senior Superintendent Ricardo Perdigon, BFP Bicol director, said Monday.

He said the Search and Rescue Dog Training Course, which started Friday, Aug. 6, at the BFP training school in Tuburan village here, would make the BFP personnel more competent in disaster risk preparedness.

“These dogs will be very useful in looking for missing persons, things, etc., in preparation for the Big One (a major earthquake) and other disasters that might happen,” he said.

Fire Chief Inspector Glenn Rodriqueza, battalion commander of the BFP special rescue force, said the training of the dogs would last for six months.

“We would like to thank some of the private citizens for donating their dogs, which they considered as heroes,” he said, explaining that most of the dogs were donated.

BFP from Romblon, Zamboanga City, and Bicol region are participating in the event.

lzb