TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC)- Bohol Chapter brought together emergency responders and disaster management partners for a three-day Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Training, Tabletop Exercise, and Full-Scale Earthquake Simulation Exercise from September 1 to 3, 2026, strengthening inter-agency preparedness for a major earthquake and mass casualty emergency in the province.

Supported by the Canadian Red Cross, the activity combined technical training, scenario-based planning and an actual field simulation to test how responders would communicate, coordinate and make critical decisions when confronted with multiple casualties and complex emergency conditions.

The MCI Training and Tabletop Exercise were conducted at Reyna’s Haven and Garden in Tagbilaran City, with the three-day activity culminating in the first PRC Bohol Chapter Earthquake Simulation Exercise on September 3.

From Training to Decision-Making

The Mass Casualty Incident Training strengthened participants’ knowledge and practical understanding of responding to emergencies in which the number and needs of casualties may temporarily exceed available resources.

Responders worked on key areas including scene management, triage, casualty prioritization, emergency medical response, communication, coordination and resource management.

The training was followed by a Tabletop Exercise, where participants were presented with an evolving earthquake scenario and required to determine appropriate actions, priorities, deployment of resources and coordination mechanisms.

The exercise challenged participants to look beyond the capabilities of their individual organizations and consider how different agencies would function as part of a coordinated response system during a large-scale emergency.

Plans Put to the Test

On September 3, lessons from the training room were translated into field operations during the full-scale earthquake simulation.

Responders were confronted with simulated earthquake conditions involving multiple casualties and situations requiring organized search and rescue, triage, emergency medical care, casualty management, communication and inter-agency coordination.

More than simply demonstrating technical skills, the exercise tested coordination, communication, interoperability, teamwork and the ability to make critical decisions under pressure.

Participating response organizations included the Philippine Red Cross – Bohol Chapter, Tarsier 117/Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Tagbilaran City DRRMO, Dauis MDRRMO, Baclayon MDRRMO, Lila MDRRMO, and Garcia Hernandez MDRRMO.

The multi-agency setup allowed responders to train alongside personnel from other organizations, understand each other’s operational capabilities and identify areas where coordination can be strengthened before an actual disaster occurs.

Facilitator’s Guide Responders Through Realistic Scenarios

Throughout the three-day activity, facilitators and resource persons guided participants through MCI management principles, scenario development, tabletop discussions and the practical application of emergency response procedures.

Rather than focusing solely on lectures, the facilitators challenged participants to analyze rapidly changing situations, establish priorities, manage casualties and resources, and coordinate with other responding organizations.

The progressive approach – from MCI training, to tabletop decision-making, and finally to a full- scale simulation – allowed participants to apply what they leamed under increasingly realistic conditions.

Observers Provide Critical Outside Assessment

A separate group of observers and partner representatives witnessed the simulation and provided valuable observations and insights on the conduct of the exercise.

Among the observers were Emmanuel C. Pilayre, REA, Chapter Administrator of the Philippine Red Cross – Bohol Chapter; Dr. Anthony R. Damalerio, Department Head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office; Engr. Antero Magellan S. Gablines, CE, PMP, representing the Rotary Club of Upper Tagbilaran; Kagawad Leo Cinco, Committee on DRRM of Barangay Poblacion 3, Tagbilaran City; and Dr. Tonet Mejares Sarong. Philippine Red Cross Medical Corps Volunteer.

Representatives from the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) and Bureau of Fire Protection – Tagbilaran City also joined as observers and partner representatives.

Their observations provided another layer of evaluation by helping identify strengths, operational gaps, lessons learned and areas that can be improved in future training and actual emergency operations.

‘We Prepare Before Lives Depend on It’

Pilayre said the purpose of the exercise was not to determine which organization performed best, but to strengthen the collective capacity of responders to work together when confronted with an actual disaster.

“We cannot predict exactly when a strong earthquake will happen, but we can prepare for how we will respond. Exercises like this allow us to test our people, our plans, our communication and. most importantly, how we work together with our partners.” Pilayre said.

He stressed that identifying weaknesses during a simulation should be viewed as an important part of preparedness.

“It is better to identify our gaps during an exercise, when we still have the opportunity to correct and improve them, than during an actual disaster when every minute and every decision can affect a life,” he added.

Pilayre also emphasized that a major disaster can never be effectively managed by one organization alone.

“When a major emergency happens, no single agency can do everything. The Red Cross, government responders, health personnel, rescue teams, volunteers and our communities must be able to work as one. Regardless of the uniform we wear, we share one purpose – to save lives and reduce human suffering.”

Building a More Disaster-Ready Bohol

The Philippine Red Cross – Bohol Chapter expressed its appreciation to the Canadian Red Cross for supporting the activity, as well as to the participating LGUs, disaster risk reduction and management offices, partner agencies, facilitators, observers, staff and volunteers who contributed to its successful conduct.

The three-day activity demonstrated that preparedness is more than having emergency plans. ambulances, rescue equipment and trained personnel. Effective disaster response also depends on whether different organizations can communicate, coordinate, share information, mobilize resources and operate together under pressure.

Lessons and observations gathered from the exercise will help guide improvements in emergency response procedures, training programs and coordination mechanisms among participating organizations.

For a province exposed to earthquakes, typhoons and other natural hazards, continuously strengthening these partnerships and testing emergency systems remain essential to protecting communities.

The simulated earthquake ended on September 3, but the lessons gained from it will continue to shape preparedness efforts.

The earthquake was simulated. The pressure was controlled. But the lessons were real.

And when a real disaster strikes, the relationships built, weaknesses corrected and skills strengthened before the emergency could make the difference between confusion and coordinated action and ultimately, between lives lost and lives saved.