KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Cotabato province has tapped barangay-based responders for emergencies.

PDRRMO acting chief Abril Espadera said that the province has organized barangay-based responder units to serve as front liners in times of crisis or emergency situations.

These volunteers called “abanteros” were organized and trained by the provincial government since 2023 to strengthen the readiness of every barangay, she added.

The concept of organizing abanteros was borne out of a series of workshops, trainings, as well as previous experiences in the province.

“We have so many remote barangays here that would take over an hour for our responders to reach. Thus, with the abanteros on the ground, they could already respond to the basic need of the patients or respond to any emergency situation,” Espadera said.

With recent series of earthquakes in Davao Oriental and Cebu provinces, Espadera said responders are closely monitoring the situation.

Abanteros had extensive 15-day training in several batches conducted by PDRRMO personnel, medical workers, firefighters, police, and military personnel, he said.

Among the trainings they earned were standard first aid and basic life support; map reading and land navigation; basic citizen military training; basic rope and rescue techniques; fire suppression, and water search and rescue training.

“Unlike the usual three to five-day basic first aid and other crisis response trainings, abanteros underwent a very extensive training,” Espadera said.

Espadera added abanteros are equipped with basic equipment to be able to respond in times of emergency or crisis.

He noted that barangay-based responders are crucial in flood-prone areas in the province, more particularly in low-lying areas and those that are on the river system.

There is an average of seven volunteer responders for almost every barangay, he said. The province has 543 barangays in 17 towns and one city.

Aside from volunteers, abanteros are also composed of barangay emergency response teams.

Espadera said there are two barangay chairmen who volunteered to be abanteros.

Abanteros have responded to numerous incidents in the province such as vehicular accidents, drowning incidents, flood rescue operations, relief operations, and other emergency situations.

Last week, several abanteros joined relief operations in earthquake-hit areas in Cebu province.

Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza emphasized the vital role of abanteros in their barangays as well as the preparedness of every community against disasters and other forms of emergency situations.

Mendoza said that the provincial government is committed to strengthen the capabilities of responders.

She said Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) personnel could not immediately respond to every emergency situation due to distance.

Thus, abanteros are equipped with basic skills to properly respond while waiting for the proper authorities or professional medical workers, the governor added.

As part of boosting readiness, Mendoza said the provincial government is set to turn over at least 200 Toyota Lite Ace ambulances to select barangays.

"We never know when disaster will strike, dapat lagi tayong handa sa anumang sakuna, ito ang magbibigay kaligtasan sa atin at sa ating pamilya," said the governor.