Dog owners interested in community disaster response can now sign up for free search-and-rescue training under the UPMV-K9 Search and Rescue Volunteer Corps, which is currently accepting applications for its 14th batch through 28 November 2026. The program is based at the University of the Philippines Diliman and is open to qualified applicants from Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.
According to the UPMV-K9 Corps, participants will be trained in dog handling fundamentals and obedience, an introduction to K9 search and rescue operations, disaster preparedness and community response, and responsible canine ownership. More advanced modules include first aid, basic life support, personal survival techniques, and other emergency response skills.
Eligibility requires applicants to be of legal age and to have a healthy dog ready for community service. The Corps said all breeds are welcome, though snub-nosed breeds will undergo health and safety screening. The recommended dog age range is eight months to five years old.
A central concern driving the program is the threat of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault. PHIVOLCS has noted that the fault historically produces major seismic events at intervals of roughly 400 to 600 years, with its last significant movement recorded in 1658. A government earthquake impact study conducted in 2004 projected that such a quake could result in approximately 34,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries in Metro Manila alone.
The UPMV-K9 Corps said it promotes the inclusion of pets in household evacuation and disaster preparedness plans, stating that animals are family members who deserve the opportunity to survive emergencies.
The Corps was established in September 2017 with the support and initiative of UP Vanguard, Inc., and was formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2021. The opening of Batch 14 coincides with preparations for the organization's 10th anniversary in 2027.
Interested applicants may register through the link tinyurl.com/UPMVBATCH14 and are advised to check their email after submission for further instructions. The Corps may also be contacted at upmvk9sar@gmail.com, on Facebook at fb.com/UPMVK9Corps, and on Instagram at @UPMVK9Corps. Its office is located at the UP DMST Complex, Ylanan Road corner Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City 1101.
Source: UPMV-K9 Search and Rescue Volunteer Corps, University of the Philippines Diliman