Disaster Response Training Ends in Philippines

Pacific Partnership 2025 wrapped up its mission in Virac, Philippines, following two weeks of collaborative disaster preparedness training. The Hawaii National Guard, Center for Excellence in Disaster Management, and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) partnered with local responders to conduct urban search and rescue (USAR), Incident Command System (ICS) training, and a disaster management workshop.

These activities aimed to improve technical rescue capabilities, support local resilience strategies, and strengthen coordination among agencies in typhoon-prone Catanduanes province.

The ICS training, based on the U.S. National Incident Management System, offered a unified framework for managing incidents. USAR teams practiced collapsed structure rescue, shoring techniques, and rubble pile operations.

"The success of Pacific Partnership in Virac is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our Philippine partners," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Robert Reyes, the officer in charge for the Philippines mission stop. "Their commitment to enhancing disaster resilience is truly inspiring. We are deeply grateful for their warm hospitality, collaborative spirit, and unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of their community. The bonds forged here will undoubtedly strengthen our shared ability to respond effectively to future challenges."

Pacific Partnership, now in its 21st year, is an annual multinational mission in the Indo-Pacific focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness.