The first on-location Shoreline Communities Onwards to Resiliency (SHORE) training was brought to Isla Verde, an island off Batangas city and Oriental Mindoro, to capacitate the island-dwellers in responding to coastline and ocean-related emergencies as the residents have done on many occasions in the past. The training was conducted together with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Batangas and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, MFI's partners for SHORE.
A barangay leader recounted how they rescued passengers of an ill-fated ferry a few years ago, plus a host of many other small boat incidents visible from their shores. Many lives have been saved using their own meager resources, strength and faith, sometimes amidst very challenging weather.
Twelve passed the physically-rigorous training conducted with the same level of difficulty of training accorded to PCG's own men. The community immediately organized and formed the Isla Verde WASAR team composed of members from the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Mgmt Council, Bantay Dagay and rescue divers to cover land-based, water surface and underwater rescue missions.
