Thirty community leaders of Bagobo-Tagabawa, an Indigenous Peoples (IP) tribe nestled at the foothills of Mt. Apo in Davao del Sur, were given the opportunity to learn how to respond to their colleagues in times of emergency after Hedcor Sibulan sent them on a two-day intensive first aid training.

Hedcor vice president for Mindanao operations Rolando Pacquiao said that they are asking the volunteers from Philippine Red Cross to help them “upskill” their stakeholders on proper intervention during injuries.

“We feel the need to train our IP partners from the community with first aid procedures due to their distance from the city’s hospitals and authorities,” said Pacquiao.

Aside from the IP leaders, members of the tribe were also equipped with basic first aid techniques such as knot-tying, bandaging, and lifting to giving proper and immediate basic care. They too were told how to assess emergency situations.

“This training gives us the confidence to provide first aid care to our colleagues. We would no longer be hesitant to help because we are now well-equipped with basic first aid procedures,” said IP chairman Datu Rogelio Manapol.

Hedcor provided each participant a first aid kit while the adopted barangays received medicines, first aid supplies, and storage cabinets.

On the last training day, tribal leaders and members underwent an assessment examination and earned a certification, verifying that they are now bona fide first aid givers.