Central Luzon strengthened its emergency medical response capabilities through Project MedX: Central Luzon Emergency Medical Simulation Exercise (SimEx), held in line with the observance of National Disaster Resilience Month.

The two-day simulation gathered the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), City Government of San Fernando, hospitals, academic institutions, humanitarian groups, and private sector partners to test the region’s response to a simulated magnitude 6.8 earthquake.

The exercise assessed mass casualty management, patient transport, hospital surge capacity, and inter-agency coordination. Experts from the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute and UP Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Program evaluated the activity and identified areas for improvement.

OCD Region III OIC Shelby Ruiz emphasized the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and preparedness in ensuring timely and life-saving emergency response.

The activity concluded with a structured debriefing to strengthen emergency protocols and coordination. Organizers said the exercise supports the government’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to building safer and more resilient communities.