Brunei to pilot Asean disaster scheme

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM is one of two selected as pilot countries under the Asean-United States cooperation involving the adoption of a disaster management system developed by the US.

Under the programme, Brunei and the Philippines will receive technical assistance in adopting the Incident Command System (ICS).

To kick off the pilot programme, a national disaster workshop titled "Incorporating the Incident Command System into the Brunei Darussalam Disaster Management System", organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, was held yesterday at the Holiday Lodge Hotel in Jerudong.

The three-day workshop itself is the second phase of the Asean-US Disaster Management Programme. John McIntyre, Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul of the Embassy of the US to Brunei, said Phase One of the cooperation was initiated in 2004 when the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, introduced the ICS to Asean member nations through training and study tours.

"During phase one, Asean member countries and the US worked together to determine the appropriate model for on scene disaster response system to facilitate a joint response among Asean nations," said McIntyre.

Speaking at the workshop, Yahya Hj Abd Rahman, Director of both the Fire and Rescue Department and the National Disaster Management Centre, said that the second phase was aimed at "adapting the ICS into the regional and national disaster management system and to promote interoperability among Asean Member countries".

Yahya highlighted that a team from the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service came to Brunei in October 2009 for a consultative visit.

"The discussion came out with the agreement that ICS should be tailored into our organisational structure and all officials and staff in relevant agencies should be trained on ICS," added Yahya.

The workshop will discuss and share ideas on the incident management issues and ICS, and will be followed up with a table top exercise to enhance the understanding of the ICS concept in real disaster scenarios in Brunei.

Meanwhile, McIntyre added that the workshop was one component of the Asean-US Disaster Management cooperation programme in which the US and Asean member nations work closely and collectively to share their expertise on disaster management and preparedness.

"Our implementing agency, the US Forest Service, has extensive technical expertise and experience in disaster management systems in the US," said the Deputy Chief of Mission.

McIntyre also highlighted that similar to Brunei, the US has established systems, developed operating manuals, command and control organisational structures, mobilisation and coordination processes, countless forms and checklists.The Brunei Times