March 29, 2024

The city government of Baguio now has a Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP) following the approval of Resolution 552, s. 2021, which took effect, Nov. 1.

In National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Memorandum 33, s. 2018, all government member agencies are enjoined develop their own PSCP as operational guidebook to avoid crippling delivery of public service when a disaster hits a locality.

Baguio City is the first local government in the Cordillera to have submitted its PSCP to the NDRRMC through the Office of Civil Defense.

Baguio City’s PSCP was developed based on Executive Order 82, s. 2021, which created the continuity core team for public service continuity.

The continuity core team under the supervision of Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer and continuity coordinator Antonette Anaban is mandated to formulate, test, execute, monitor and update the PSCP.

Series of seminar-workshops helped the core team identify climate and disaster risks such as tropical cyclones, monsoon rains, earthquake, pandemic, and other disruptions as occurrences most likely to affect the city.

“It is the aim of the local government to continuously deliver its functions to the public amid any disruption or disaster. This PSCP contains the internal capacities, recovery requirements, and strategies to minimize damage and loss to essential processes, ensure the succession of leadership, and improve continuity capabilities of all the city departments/offices,” Anaban stated in the PSCP.

The PSCP will serve as a guide for immediate decision-making and reference for proper actions through the restoration of essential functions even during the occurrence of disruptions.

Every department and division are required to develop office-based continuity plans with the following goals:

Perform essential functions and services with corresponding adjustments in processes and

procedures;

Activate immediately technological solutions that are needed for the continuity of services;

Safeguard the safety of the organization’s staff and its clientele;

Ensure quick recovery of critical resources and lifeline services;

Ensure continuous delivery of services by critical suppliers;

Ensure inclusivity of the continuity plan to reach out to all sectors of the community; and

Continuous improvement of the PSCP through test, training and exercise program.

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said an up-to-date PSCP is needed considering the impact of natural disasters and other possible disruptive events that could affect the city government’s functions.

“This administration has always adhered to its promise to the people to provide them with the best quality of service as possible. However, there are challenges that we face such as division among agencies, organizational hierarchy, and inflexibility of offices that we need to address to accomplish our promise. It is our responsibility to identify these gaps and address them properly.

Moreover, we acknowledge the need to establish, implement, and maintain appropriate procedures for managing the immediate consequences of calamitous events with high regard to the welfare of employees and clients, operation options for responding to incidents, prevention of further loss of lives and disruption to the economy, and recovery and resumption of mission essential functions,” Magalong said.

He also admitted that the task is formidable because government agencies and its personnel are just as vulnerable to hazards as the general public. – Jessa P. Samidan