CAMP LAPU-LAPU, Cebu City — In partnership with the Canadian Embassy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a three-day Chemical and Explosive Systems Exploitation Course at Headquarters, Central Command (Centcom) recently.

Centcom spokesperson Lt.Col. Christopher Tampus said the three-day course was designed to instill awareness amongst first responders of crisis situations and possible terrorist attacks.

Front-line responders consist of various line agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and AFP joined the event.

“The course training was aimed to first help responders identify potential threats and hazards in responding to a crisis situation,” Tampus said.

He added that the course was also meant to orient first responders in combating possible threats of unused and unexploded war materials during the World War II.

Said training course included the donning of personal protective equipment suits, x-ray of unexploded ordnance and actual explosives demonstration.

Some 55 participants from said participating agencies attended the three-day event with Mark Seniuk, Second Secretary Political/ Economic Relations and Public Affairs, Canadian Embassy delivering opening remarks on behalf of Canadian Am-bassador to the Philippines, Christopher Thornley during the kick-off ceremony.

The creation of a core group among the participating line agencies will be created from the course to serve in a pool of trainers for the Visayas region.

Said training course was developed under the Canadian government’s anti-terrorism program with the Philippines among the beneficiaries which also include such other Asian countries as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.