Republic of the Philippines

Department of the Interior and Local Government

BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION

National Headquarters
145 Union Square Condominium, 15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City

OPLAN PAGHAHANDA LABAN SA SAKUNA

(OPLAN PAGHALASA)
I.

AUTHORITY
A. Republic Act No. 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
B. Executive Order No. 888 dated 07 June 2010 entitled Adopting the
Strategic National Action Plan (SNAP) on Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR), 2009-2019 and Institutionalizing DRR; and
C. Memorandum from Chief BFP dated 19 July 2010 re: Operational
Plan (OPLAN) for Calamities.
TASK ORGANIZATION AND BFP OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY (See attached IMPLAN)

II. SITUATION
The Philippine archipelago is located in the southeastern coast of the Asia
mainland. It consists of 7, 107 island and islets, making it one of the largest archipelagos
in the world. It has a coastline of 18, 411 kilometers. Its topographic location is
vulnerable to typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. This natural
phenomenon may occur at any time of the year, aside from floods which is usually
associated with typhoons during the coming of the monsoon season. As per Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), the
Philippines is being visited by an average of twenty (20) typhoons annually. These
typhoons, although not of all this caused damage due to high winds may possibly bring
also torrential rains which may cause damaging floods and landslides. Losses in
properties and lives because of the destructive effect of the typhoons that had beset the
country ever since is enormous if not immeasurable as the country experienced three
successive tropical cyclones; Ondoy, Pepeng and santi between September 24 to
November 2, 2009. Ondoy brings a months volume of rain in just 12 hours causing
widespread flooding that simply overwhelmed National Capital Region and the towns
around Laguna Lake. Three days after TS Ondoy exited the country; TY Pepeng caused
massive flooding and landslides as it traversed Ilocos Norte and crossed Apayao. Then
on October 28, a new typhoon Santi entered PAR moving towards the Central Luzon
direction. The combined effects of the foregoing disaster events according to the reports
affected a total of 2, 118, 367 families/ 10, 183, 609 persons either as victims of flooding

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and/ or landslides. Almost a thousand lives perished with a total of 961, a figure that may
not be at par with similar past events but as significant loss just the same.
Other potential calamities such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions may occur
in any period of the year. Earthquakes occur throughout almost all the archipelago
according to PHILVOCS and ironically their occurrences are usually sudden. On July 16,
1990 a catastrophic earthquake of 7.7 magnitude with epicenter near Rizal, Nueva Ecija
hit Luzon causing 1, 666 casualties and extensive damage to property. Death and
devastation induced by the tremors were accompanied by considerable damage in
central and northern Luzon. Building and infrastructure facilities collapsed in Baguio,
Dagupan, and Cabanatuan cities. Earthquakes may also bring gigantic tidal sea waves
internationally known as TSUNAMI. This occurs when the epicenter of the earthquake is
at the bottom of the sea and sometimes caused undersea eruptions.
Our country has several active volcanoes Mt. Pinatubo erupted in June 1991.
Mayon volcano erupted in February 1993 and killed 72 people who were caught in a
cloud of very hot gases that rolled down it slope. Taal volcano was very destructive in
1911 and erupted in the 1960s. It had been exhibiting heightened activity in March 1992
but did not erupt. Kanlaon volcano and other volcanoes which have shown signs of
activity are being kept under surveillance.
Volcanic eruptions tend to change the shape of the land and the pattern of
human settlements during the active episodes and long after the eruptive phase have
passed. Taal volcano force lake-shore people to transfer the site of their town center
several times. Mayon volcano debris flows covered the old town of Cagsawa. Ash fall
from Pinatubo eruption collapsed roofs of buildings and caused deaths in a
transportation terminal. Because of lahar flow from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo, there is
no more Barrio Poon Bato in Botolan, Zambales. Lahar is a cyclical problem around
volcanoes until the debris deposited on the mountain slopes, will be stabilized to have
completely gone down to the lowlands.
Corollary other calamity or disaster may happen aside from those mentioned that
are purely environmental in nature. This happens when slipshod actions are committed
specifically in handling hazardous materials that may categorically result disaster or
calamity.
Being the agency mandated to save lives and properties it is inherent that
programs centered on preparedness shall be created in order to define our specific
function in the unlikely occurrence of these calamities/ disasters. Further, this would
propel our organization to systematically work with other government and nongovernment organizations to harmonize existing policies/ guidelines for the effective
delivery of much needed medical and rescue services.

MISSION:
OPLAN PAGHALASA provides for policies, guidelines and procedures that BFP
responding units and contingents must implement should aforecited emergencies occur.
Further, this will enable the BFP to meet the following objectives:
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A. To establish a unified course of action within the Bureau in times of calamities;

B. To have a uniformed operational response system, responsible dispatch of
information and appropriate rehabilitation procedures;
C. To strengthen the capability of the organization both on human and logistical
resources;
D. To effectively respond to emergency calls from affected areas; and
E. To established a close and effective coordination among all concerned responding
government and non-government agencies.

SCOPE AND COVERAGE

This OPLAN shall apply to all BFP operating units whose functions and activities
contribute to public safety in consonance with the mandate of the BFP.
III. DEFINITION OF TERMS:
A. Emergency Response Guidebook- A Guidebook jointly develop by Transport
Canada, U.S. Department of Transportation and the Communications of Mexico for
the use of Firefighters, Police, Emergency services personnel who maybe the first to
arrive at the scene of a Hazmat incident.
B. Hazmat Incident- are incidents involving the release of toxic materials, fluids or
vapors into the environment, creating a potential hazard to lives, property and the
environment.
C. Disaster- a serious disruption of the functioning of the community or a society
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and
impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to use using
its own resources. Disaster are often described as a result of the combination of
exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient
capacity or measure to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences.
Disasters impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease and other negative effects
on human, physical, mental, and social well-being, together with damage to property,
destruction of assets, loss of services, social and economic disruption and
environmental degradation.
D. Earthquakes- Earth vibrations produced when the stability of rock masses under the
surface of the earth is disturbed. These disturbances usually occur along existing
fault lines or zones of structural weaknesses.
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E. Emergency- unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding

immediate action.
F. Flashflood- flood of short duration with highly peak discharge.
G. Flood- The condition that occur when water overflows the natural or artificial
confines of a stream or body of water, or when run-off from heavy rainfall
accumulated over low-lying areas.
H. Hazard- a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may
cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihood
and services, social and economic disruption or environmental damage.
I.

Tropical Cyclone- a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and

numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rains. It is known
locally as typhoons, these hit the country seasonally during the months of June to
November, bearing heavy monsoon rain usually in July, August and September.

J. Tsunami- A series of travelling ocean waves of long length and period usuallycause
by seismic disturbances. In the ocean floor or confines which, upon reaching the
shore, losses sped but increases in height. Depending upon the residual force upon
arrival, such as waves may rush inshore and cause devastation to human
settlements and infrastructure along shorelines.
K. Volcanic Eruption- The ejection of volcanic materials such as lava, ashes, rock
fragments, steam and other gases through a fissure brought about by tremendous
pressure which forces open the rock formation overlying pockets of molten rocks or
steam reservoirs found under the earths crust.
L. Hazardous Materials-any substance (solid, liquid or gas) capable of causing harm
to people, property and the environment.
IV. STRATEGIES:
CONCEPT OF OPERATION
1. Readiness Phase
a.
The Incident Command Post (ICP) shall be established at the BFP
Operation Center which shall serve as the venue where the Incident Command, the
core unit to monitor the course of operation and shall closely coordinate with the
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BFP Regional Offices and other government responding units. The Incident
Command shall be composed of the following:
Over-all Incident Commander- Chief, BFP
Members:

Deputy Chief for Operations

Chief Directorial Staff
Director for Operations
Director for Logistics
Director for Administration
Director for Comptrollership
Chief, Health and Emergency Management Division
Chief, Fire Suppression Operation Division
Chief, Special Operation Division
Chief, Public Information Services

b.
Regional Offices shall likewise establish their respective operation
centers for purposes of monitoring all emergency responses activities within their
areas of responsibility.
c.
The Directorate for Administration (DA) of the BFP-NHQ and its
counterpart at the regional level shall conduct inventory of personnel who shall
be tapped to participate in the emergency response operations. To ensure
availability of manpower, off duty, on-leave personnel and those undergoing
training at the FNTI may be recalled.
d.
The Directorate for Operation (DO) and its counterpart at the
regional level shall identify all available equipages that can be utilized for
operation under this OPLAN. The DO shall identify the urgently required
equipment for the response operation that needs to be reproduced and further
endorse such to the Chief, BFP.
e.
The Directorate for Logistics (DL) and its counterpart at the
Regional Level shall maintain equipage, under its inventory, in good operational
condition for immediate availability of such to response operations.
f.
The Directorate for Comptrollership (DC) and its counterpart at the
regional level shall facilitate the processing of emergency fund to support the
operating units in the provision of meals, identifying uniforms and emergency
response kits.
g.
The Chief, Public Information services (PIS) and its counterpart at
the regional level shall ensure proper flow of communication within the BFP and
ensure responsible dispatch of information to tri-media.
2. Response Phase

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a.
The BFP-NHQ shall be guided by the directives from the National
disaster Coordination Council (NDCC) in terms of priority areas for response and
services needed. Information shall be consistently relayed to BFP. National
Incident Command Post by respective operating units thru their Regional Incident
Command Post taking into consideration the reglementary period for reporting as
follows:

4:00 AM
10:00 AM
4:00 PM

b.
Regional BFP responders shall be guided by the instructions of
their respective regional provincial and city/municipal Disaster Coordinating
Councils (DCCs)
c.
All BFP units shall be put on heightened alert to the following
disasters and other emergencies, such as but not limited to:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.

Tropical Cyclone
Volcanic eruption
Flash Floods
Earthquake
HAZMAT Incidents
Tsunami
Other

The operational response on such disasters/calamity emergency

depends on the degree of alert Level which will significantly integrate in the
IMPLAN.
3. Relief and Recovery Phase
All BFP operating units shall take pro-active role in augmenting the relief
operations of the government to include distribution of relief goods and supply of
water to evacuation centers and shelters.
4. Rehabilitation Phase
BFP operating units shall also assist the Local Government Units in the
following rehabilitation activities
a.
Cleaning/Flushing of vital infrastructure such as hospitals,
evacuations center, schools public markets and similar strategic institutions as
well as draining (siphoning) of floods waters in vital road networks such as
underpass and road tunnels.
b.

Inspection of buildings integrity after the earthquake; and

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c.
Ensure the awareness of the public on safety precautionary
measures in case of re-occurrences of same calamity.

V. COORDINATING INSTRUCTION
A. Daily Accomplishment Reports of all participating units of this OPLAN shall be
submitted to the BFP-NHQ Operations Center on the prescribed period. The Daily
Accomplishment Report format shall be provided on a separates advisory.
B. No accomplishment and/or progress reports shall be transmitted to DILG or NDCC
without the prior notation of the Chief, BFP or, in absence, the DCO.
C. All Regional Directors, Provincial/District Fire Marshal, City and Municipal Fire
Marshals should take extra efforts to solicit the cooperation of the Volunteer Fire
Brigade as force multipliers in all phases of operation;
D. All participating Units shall conduct Post Operation Analysis and submit copy to the
Office of the Director for Operation through their respective Regional Director.
VI. RESCISSION
All existing directives and other issuances which are contrary to or inconsistent
with this OPLAN are hereby rescinded or modified accordingly.
VII. EFFECTIVITY
This OPLAN shall take effect immediately.

(Originally Signed)
ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV
DIRECTOR
(DSC)
BFP
Chief, BFP
20 October 2010

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