WHITEWOODS CONVENTION AND LEISURE HOTEL, SILANG, CAVITE—The DILG IV-A conducted a basic training course on the Management of the Dead and Missing Persons (MDM) from September 24-26, 2024.

Representatives from eleven (11) LGU participants took part in the course, namely Ternate, Tanza, Pangil, Famy, City of San Pedro, Malvar, Nasugbu,  Rodriguez, Panukulan, Polillo, and Lucena City, where they learned the different phases of MDM Operations including:

• Rules and Regulations Governing the Management of the Dead and Missing Persons – LGOO VI Rex D. Miranda
• Management of the Dead and Missing as a Component to PDRRMS, NDRP, ICS and its Facilities – LGOO V Mark Angelo A. Ballesteros
• Handling Dead Bodies and Body Parts – PCT Simonelle G Parafina
• Final Arrangement of the Dead – LGOO II Niña Norissa C. Maranga
• Reporting Missing Persons – LGOO II Raymond Joseph B. Paraiso
• Management of the Bereaved Persons – LGOO II Niña Norissa C. Maranga
• System Supports to Operations – LGOO V Mark Angelo A. Ballesteros
• Reportorial Requirements – LGOO VI Rex D. Miranda
• MDM Field Manual – LGOO II Raymond Joseph B. Paraiso

To cap off the training, a Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) was performed on the final day to give participants hands-on experience and opportunities to apply their learnings in real-world situations, which included rescue simulations.

The Management of the Dead and Missing, defined in the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 19 s. 2016, is a set of guidelines for LGUs concerning the establishment of protocols in regards to the proper and dignified management of deceased or missing individuals in cases of disaster or calamities. In coordination with other concerned agencies, said guidelines include the Recovers, Identification, Proper Documentation, Burial of the deceased, and Systems for Reporting and Tracking missing individuals.