Strengthening Disaster Response in the Philippines

A Successful Knowledge Exchange with Canadian HUSAR Experts

By David Larkin, Sr. Policy Advisor at Public Safety Canada

From January 27-31, 2025, Canadian Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) experts gathered with the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense (OCD) for an insightful knowledge exchange. This collaboration, facilitated by the Technical Assistance Partnership – Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM), supported the ongoing development of the OCD’s newly formed rapid response team. 

Throughout the week, technical workshops and hands-on discussions were held, focused on improving key disaster response capabilities. Topics ranged from conducting rapid damage assessments using drones, to USAR-focused medicine and K-9 handling. These activities were tailored to meet the specific needs of the OCD’s operations, providing valuable insights that will inform the next phase of the project. 

A significant outcome of this collaboration was defining the priorities for an upcoming study tour to Canada in April 2025. Experts from Canada’s HUSAR Task Forces—CAN-TF1 Vancouver, CAN-TF-2 Calgary, CAN-TF4 Manitoba, and CAN-TF5 Halifax—are partnering with the OCD and Public Safety Canada to design a tour focused on further strengthening the OCD’s operational response capacity. The study tour will provide additional technical learning opportunities and demonstrations to further enhance the Philippines’ disaster response capabilities. 

As we reflect on the week, David Larkin, Sr. Policy Advisor at Public Safety Canada, shared his perspective : “Learning how the Philippines navigates the realities of being one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world offered a timely reminder that the ability of a country to manage and adapt to escalating disasters is not simply a matter of financial capacity but the quality of how existing capabilities and resources are organized within the system.” 

This TAP-EDM/PAT-MDE technical assistance is part of a Global Affairs Canada initiative, implemented by Alinea International, and aims to enhance disaster resilience in the Philippines. The collaboration between Canadian experts and the OCD marks a step forward in strengthening disaster management capabilities, with both countries gaining valuable insights from their shared experiences. 

To learn more about this initiative, visit www.tap-pat.ca, and discover more about Canada’s HUSAR program here. 

Asec Jekereen Joy R. Casipit – Civil Defense Deputy Administrator and Chief of Staff to the CDA, Director Jerichoe C. Cadungog, Director III, Administrative and Financial Management Service, Maria Agnes T. Palacio – Officer-in-Charge, Operations Service, Director Cesar M. Idio – Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Civil Defense Deputy Administrator, Asec Bernardo Rafaelito ‘Raffy’ R. Alejandro IV – Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration, Usec Ariel F. Nepomuceno – Administrator, Office of Civil Defense & Executive Director, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman, TAP-EDM Canadian Experts: David Larkin, Annie Ste Croix, Evan Stewart, Dennis Pitts, Isabel Hernando, Scott Kerbis, Eric Barron, and Mr. John Lok, Counsellor and Head of Cooperation – Embassy of Canada.