TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 8, under Regional Director FCSUPT Aldwin M. Salazar, participated in a multi-agency Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) organized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on September 23, 2026, to test regional response capabilities against a catastrophic earthquake scenario.
Simulated Magnitude 8.2 Trench Disruption and Hotel Operations
The joint tactical exercise was structured around a high-impact seismic disaster designed to test emergency management protocols and multi-agency operational coordination:
Scenario Parameters: The drill simulated a magnitude 8.2 earthquake originating along the Philippine Trench east of Leyte, generating widespread structural collapses, power outages, and high casualty counts in Tacloban City.
Mass Casualty Focus: Specialized rescue units addressed a primary scenario at the Leyte Park Hotel, where an estimated 300 guests and hotel staff were hypothetically trapped under collapsed concrete structures.
Search and Extraction Drills: Participating USAR teams executed tactical planning, hazard identification, technical search operations, victim extraction, and structured personnel accountability maneuvers under simulated crisis conditions.
Inter-Agency Coordination and Disaster Preparedness Mandate
The simulation exercise provided regional emergency units with vital practical experience in managing complex, multi-structure collapse scenarios:
Unified Command System: BFP Region 8 worked alongside AFP personnel and inter-agency disaster responders to streamline communication channels, rescue logistics, and resource deployment protocols.
Operational Readiness: Regional Director FCSUPT Salazar underscored that participating in realistic simulation exercises ensures BFP Special Rescue Force (SRF) teams remain fully prepared for real-world urban disasters across Eastern Visayas.
