Northern Samar Wins 2026 Regional Rescue Jamboree

Posted on July 20, 2026 at 4:42 pm

ORMOC CITY — Northern Samar’s victory at the 2026 Regional Rescue Jamboree (RRJ) did not come from a single event or a last-minute preparation. It was built through years of training, repeated drills, and the commitment of responders who spend their time preparing for emergencies that communities may face.

The province was declared the overall champion of this year’s RRJ held from July 17 to 23 in Ormoc City, beating other strong teams from across Eastern Visayas. The competition gathered nearly 1,000 disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) responders who tested their skills in different rescue operations and emergency scenarios.

Northern Samar’s delegation was composed of personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and municipal rescue teams from Palapag, Pambujan, Catarman, and Mondragon.

For PDRRMO Chief Rei Josiah A. Echano, the championship reflects the dedication of the province’s responders who continue to train even outside competition season.

“Diri la ini para ha kompetisyon. An amon ginhihimo nga ensayo amo an amon pag-andam para ha tinuod nga mga insidente nga mahimo mahinabo ha aton mga komunidad,” Echano said.

(“This is not only for competition. The training we do is our preparation for real incidents that may happen in our communities.”)

Echano said the recognition is a reminder that rescue work requires teamwork, discipline, and constant improvement.

“An kada ensayo ngan kada challenge nga amon naaatubang nakakadugang han amon kahibaro ngan abilidad ha pagresponde,” he added. (“Every training and challenge we face adds to our knowledge and ability to respond.”)

Northern Samar delivered strong performances in several events, including the Water Search and Rescue-WASAR Regular Category, where it claimed the championship. The province also placed second runner-up in the Regular Category Overall competition.

The win was also credited to the cooperation between the provincial DRRM office and municipal rescue teams, whose members regularly train together for possible emergencies such as typhoons, flooding, and other disasters.

The RRJ was organized by the Office of Civil Defense Region VIII and featured different rescue challenges, including firefighting, search and rescue operations, vehicle extrication, and endurance events. This year’s competition also introduced the Disability-Inclusive Search and Rescue (DiSAR) protocols.

2026 RRJ Official Results

Static Display (Overall)
Champion – Catbalogan
1st Runner-up – Matag-ob
2nd Runner-up- Palapag

Firefighting (Regular)
Champion – Eastern Samar
1st Runner-up- Ormoc
2nd Runner-up – Northern Samar

Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) – Regular
Champion – Northern Samar
1st Runner-up – Pambujan
2nd Runner-up – Mondragon

MOSAR (Regular)
Champion – Catarman
1st Runner-up – Sta. Margarita
2nd Runner-up- San Jose

AGOS (Regular)
Champion – Sta. Margarita
1st Runner-up – Sogod
2nd Runner-up – Mondragon

Vehicle Extrication (Regular)
Champion – Sta. Margarita
1st Runner-up – Javier
2nd Runner-up – Mondragon

Regular Category Overall
Champion – Sta. Margarita
1st Runner-up- Mondragon
2nd Runner-up – Northern Samar

5km Endurance Swim (Advanced)
Champion – Ormoc
1st Runner-up – Leyte
2nd Runner-up – Giporlos

Fox 3 Protocol (Advanced)
Champion – Leyte
1st Runner-up – Palapag
2nd Runner-up – Gandara

King of the Sea (Advanced)
Champion – Samar
1st Runner-up – Hilongos
2nd Runner-up – Catbalogan

2026 RRJ Overall Ranking (Per Province)
Champion – Northern Samar
1st Runner-up – Samar
2nd Runner-up – Leyte

For Northern Samar’s rescue teams, the championship serves as recognition of their hard work, but more importantly, it reflects their continuing responsibility to be ready when people need help.

Photo credits: PDRRMO Northern Samar