Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Home Affairs looks at the US' Incident Command Centre (ICS) as a vital cog in enhancing the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), and a way to standardise its command and control system in preparation for any future incidents that may require the NDMC's attention.

The Minister, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja IChatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusof, has also called upon all sectors to integrate the Incident Command System into their disaster response Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs).

He made the call at the start of a three-day National Disaster workshop, titled "Incorporating the incident Command System into the Brunei Darussalam Disaster Management System" being held at the Holiday Lodge Hotel, Jerudong until tomorrow.

"We are now embarking on enhancing the main infrastructure, Disaster Command Centre, Disaster Management System as well as expanding the organisation," said the minister in his opening address.

Pehin Dato Hj Adanan expected that the workshop which incorporated the incident command system (ICS) into the Brunei Darussalam Disaster Management System to serve as "a step forward in helping us to develop our capacity and increase efficiency in areas of disaster management".

The Minister however, was quick to acknowledge that preparedness "cannot completely prevent any disasters from occurring"."Thus it is paramount to equip our responders with up-to-date skills so as to ensure that they are ready at all times to respond to any disaster effectively regardless of magnitude," he observed.

Pehin Dato Hj Adanan added that he hoped ICS can be learnt from and adapted to Brunei's standard system for disaster response."This (workshop) is also very timely as we see the need to standardise our command and control system especially in the preparation for extreme weather conditions which is becoming a regular phenomenon in Brunei," he said.

The Minister is also confident that ICS can strengthen Brunei's existing disaster response management system "by standardising coordination amongst the different agencies and to ensure that designated responders at the different levels are capable and trained in the different types of emergencies and disaster response".

"I hope this workshop will enhance the preparedness and response operation and promote interoperability among our stakeholders," he commented.

Speaking on the effort involved, the minister highlighted a concerted effort among a number of agencies that have worked together in upgrading and adapting their existing disaster management system.

"I feel it is very important to integrate the command system of different sectors, so responses and actions are well coordinated as multi-sectoral cooperation is very crucial in managing disaster, particularly in a much more complex disaster situation, and in all aspects of disaster management,"explained Pehin Dato Hj Adanan.

"We need to agree to (a) common standard system so we are ready for any level of disasters and this is important among all agencies during disaster operations when human lives are at stake," stressed Pehin Dato Hj Adanan.

The minister also placed emphasis on the need of having professionally trained teams as well as a systematic responding mechanism.

By having this in place, the minister anticipated that Brunei can handle disaster and post-disaster incidents much more efficiently and effectively, such as swift evacuation, search and rescue, and other relief services to the suffering people".

"I like to emphasise that all agencies need to integrate ICS into their strategic plan or plan of action for any disasters and also in the national disaster management plan," said the minister.He also called on all sectors to adopt this system and incorporate it in their disaster response SOPs.

Although ICS stands to be a very vital cog in the country's national disaster management, the minister was quick to point out that ICS "is not intended to replace our existing mechanism, it only supplements and reinforces it". -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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