CAUAYAN CITY, ISABELA – Following a series of undertakings and capability building initiatives under the Operation L!STO Program, DILG R2 once again facilitates another activity, this time on the Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) Persons Basic Training Course for local functionaries on September 23-25, 2024.

Institutionalized under NDRRMC Memorandum Circular No. 19 series of 2016 and with funding from the Local Government Academy (LGA), the training imparts technical knowledge and overall understanding of the governing policies, guidelines of the management of the dead and missing persons and bereaved families as a result of disasters, including the roles and responsibilities of each MDM cluster member.

The 3-day learning activity, broken down into nine (9) modules, covers participants from ten (10) LGUs across the region composed of of local disaster risk reduction and management officer (LDRRMOs), chiefs of police, fire marshals, and local health and social welfare development officers.

Coaches from both national and regional levels were tapped to discuss each module and to facilitate the modules and the accompanying practical exercises for optimum appreciation of the principles of the management of the dead and missing, and the different processes in identifying dead bodies, handling body parts, and providing psychosocial support to bereaved families of victims.

As lead agency in the MDM, DILG R2 hopes to cascade training to all LGUs in the region while enhancing the competencies of the MDM team members and concerned LGU officials in the performance of their expected functions, should it be needed in a worst case disaster scenario.