wRepublic 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

IMPLAN TO 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.

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 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.

Page 1 of 11IMPLAN OF OPLAN PAGHALASA

Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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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.
III.

OBJECTIVES:
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:
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;

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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.
IV.

SUPPORTING/ COORDINATING UNITS:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

V.

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)

Local Government Units (LGUs)
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAG-ASA)
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
Department of Health
Department of Agriculture
Department of Education Culture and Sports

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 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.

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Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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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
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:

b.

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

Regional BFP responders shall be guided by the instructions of

their respective regional provincial and city/municipal Disaster
Coordinating Councils (DCCs)

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c.

All BFP units shall be put on heightened alert with emphasis on

the following alert levels, as follows:

Emergency/ Disaster/
Calamity

Alert Level 1

Alert Level 2

TROPICAL CYCLONE

(Public Storm Warning

Signal No. 1)-Winds of 30
to 60 kilometers per hour
may be expected within
36 hours. Alert is on but
business
maybe
continued as usual except
when flood occurs.

(Public Storm Warning

Signal No. 2)-Winds
greater than 60 t0 100
kilometers per hour may
be expected within 24
hours.
People
are
advised
to
take
precautionary measures.

BFP
National 1. Prepositioning
of
Headquarters thru the
equipage
will
Incident Command Post
commence on areas
shall immediately activate
declared to be high
Task Force PAGHALASA
risk and assist on
in conjunction with its
evacuation operation.
specific functions as well
as theircounterparts in the 2. Provides medical and
Regional Level with the
rescue services.
following
specific
undertakings.

Alert Level 3
(Public Storm Warning
Signal
No.
3)-The
center of the tropical
cyclone is expected to
pass every close or over
areas where Signal No.
3 is raised. Winds
greater
than
185
kilometers per hour
would be expected over
these areas within next
12 hours. People should
stay indoors in strong
buildings.
All equipages shall
assemble
on
areas
declared by the DCCs
to be the staging area
for response operations.

1. All PFM/ CFM/ MFM

shall
immediately
coordinate
to
their
respective
Disaster
Coordinating
Council
(DCC's)
for
any
instruction
/
advise
relative
to
the
impending calamities
2. All available equipage
necessary for response
operation
shall
be
readily available and on
standby status.
VOLCANIC
ERUPTION

(Volcanic Alert Level 2)There is increase in

number or intensity of
unrest
indicators
(seismicity, deformation,
heat
flow,
etc.),
confirmation of volcano
unrest
and
eruption

(Volcanic Alert Level 3)Minor steam eruption

occurs;
sustain
high
levels
of
unrest
indicators,
significant
possibility of hazardous
eruption.

Page 5 of 11IMPLAN OF OPLAN PAGHALASA

Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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Volcanic Alert Level 4

and 5)-Volcanic eruption
on progress.
Vulnerable areas
prepared for immediate
evacuation.

threats.
Undertake public
awareness
campaigns.
Prepare evacuation plan
for vulnerable areas.
Immediate execution of
their
respective
CONTINGENCY PLAN.
FLASH FLOOD

(Flash Flood Guidance)The amount of rainfall for

a given duration over a
small basin needed to
create a minor flooding
(bankfull) conditions at the
outlet of the basin. For
flash flood occurrence,
durations up to six hours
are evaluated and the
basin areas are of such a
size to allow reasonable
accurate
precipitation
estimates from remotely
sensed data and in-silu
data.
Flash
Flood
Guidance then is an index
that indicates how much
rainfall is needed to cause
minimal flooding in a
basin.

Intensify public
awareness campaigns.
An exclusion zone of
1.5km from the summit of
the volcano should be
enforced
for
nonessential
shipping.
Vulnerable communities
advised of evacuation
routes and transport put
on standby.
(Flash Flood Threat)The amount of rainfall of
a given duration in
excess
of
the
corresponding
Flash
Flood Guidance value.
The flash flood threat
then is an index that
provides an indication of
areas where flooding is
imminent or occurring
and where immediate
action is or will be shortly
needed.

Immediate execution
of
their
respective
CONTINGENCY PLAN.
EARTHQUAKE

(Intensity 1 to 3) weak to
moderately strong shake
of earth surface- Felt by
many people, generally by
people indoor and some
people outdoor.

(Intensity 4 to 6)- Strong

to very strong- Felt by
most people both indoor
and outdoor as well as
those who are sleeping.
Some people lose their
balance.

Immediate execution of
their
respective
CONTINGENCY PLAN.
TSUNAMI

Tsunami Alert- There is a

series of sea waves
commonly generated by

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Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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(Intensity
7
up)Destructive
to
devastating- people find
it difficult to stand
especially in upper floor.
Some building, bridges
and well-made structure
might
collapse.
Landslide may also
occur.

under
the
sea
earthquakes and whose
heights could be greater
than 5 meters. It is
erroneously called tidal
waves and sometimes
mistakenly
associated
with storm surges. It
occurs
when
the
earthquake is shallowseated and strong enough
to displace parts of the
seabed and disturb the
mass of water over it. The
following natural signs
indicate an approaching
local tsunami. A felt
earthquake. Unusual sea
level change: sudden sea
water retreat or rise; and
rumbling
sound
of
approaching waves.
Immediate execution of
their
respective
CONTINGENCY PLAN.
HAZMAT INCIDENT

For small or large spill refer to the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) for
initial and Protection Action Distance.
For First Responder:
1. Approach continuously from upwind.
2. Secure the scene. Isolate and deny entry.
3. Identify the hazards if possible.
4. Obtain help. Advice headquarters, notify responsible agencies for
assistance, for clean-up/ containment.
For chemical incident notify EMB, DENR
For suspected Biohazards, notify DOH
For suspected Radio-nuclear materials, notify PNRI
5. Site Entry must be done only when wearing appropriate protective gear
and must be done in a calculated moment.
6. Respond- Respond in an appropriate manner. Establish a command post
and line of communication. Rescue casualties where possible and
evacuate if necessary. Safety is topmost priority.

NOTE: Taskforce PAGHALASA is automatically activated in Alert Level 1

Page 7 of 11IMPLAN OF OPLAN PAGHALASA

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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

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

TASKINGS
A. NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
a. Chief, BFP
- Acts as the Overall Incident Commander in the execution
of this OPLAN.
b. Deputy Chief for Operations (DCO)
- Supervise the Taskforce PAGHALASA;
- Inform the Overall Incident Commander of any information/
incident/ activities that may arise during the implementation
of this OPLAN.
c. Chief Directorial Staff (CDS)
- Assist the Chief, BFP and the DCO in supervising the
effective implementation of this OPLAN.
d. Director for Operations (DO)
- Acts as the BFP head coordinator with NDCC;
- Receives instructions/ orders from the NDCC Chairman
and relays to the DCC; and relays to the DCO instructions/
orders from the NDCC Chairman.
e. Director for Administration (DA)
- Provides list of personnel on stand-by, on- call and ready in
case of augmentation is in need
- Recall all outgoing personnel as well as those on leave.

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Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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f.

Director for Logistics (DL)

- Provides updated information of all operational equipages
and its strategic position for possible deployment;
- Initiates emergency procurement of all unavailable
equipment, materials and/or supply necessary for the
implementation of this OPLAN.

g. Director for Comptrollership (DC)

- Provides and release of operational fund to support the
activities under this OPLAN;
- Approve release of fund allocation for the emergency
procurement of equipment, materials and/or supply
necessary for the implementation of this OPLAN.
h. Chief, Health and Emergency Management Division
- Directs, supervises and monitors all EMS activities/
responses during the duration of the OPLAN;
- Recommends to the DO the dispatch/ assignments of EMS
personnel;
- Prepares Progress/ Action Reports to DO for subsequent
transmittal to DCO and C, BFP.
i.

Chief, Special Operations Division

- Direct, supervises and monitor all rescue operations for the
duration of the OPLAN;
- Recommends to the DO the dispatch/ assignments of
rescue personnel;
- Prepares Progress/ Action Reports to DO for subsequent
transmittal to DCO and C, BFP.

j.

Chief, Fire Suppression Operations Division

- Direct, supervises and monitors all activities of the BFPNHQ Operation Center ensuring its adequacy of supplies,
materials and staff;
- Ensure the prompt submission of all reports coming from
all participating BFP units under the OPLAN.

k. Chief, Public Information Services

- Acts as the official spokesperson of the Bureau in times of
disaster or calamities;
- Ensure all available data at hand coming from BFP
Operation center in preparing an interview from tri-media.
l.

Liaison Team to NDCC Operation Center

- Composite of one (1) Senior Officer, one (1) Junior Officer
and two (2) Non- Commission Officers, all under the
Directorate for Operation.;
Represent the BFP around the clock in the NDCC
Operation Center to gather updates on the present
calamity;
- Communicate with BFP Operation Center for updates on
real time situation of the responding units.

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Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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B. REGIONAL OFFICES
Regional Taskforce will be created in the Regional Offices included in
this OPLAN and Regional Operations Center will be established in
offices of the Regional Director.
a. Regional Director
- Acts as the Regional Taskforce Commander and Overall
coordinator of the BFP regional operations relative to this
OPLAN;
- Consolidates all periodic regional development reports on
response operation under this OPLAN and submits the
same to BFP-NHQ Operation Center.
b. Deputy Regional Director for Operations
- Acts as the Head Regional Coordinator with the Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) and responsible for
receiving instructions from the Chairman, RDCC;
- Receive and reports to the Regional Director all
instructions/ orders of the RDCC for appropriate action.
C. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS
a. Daily Accomplishment Reports of all participating units shall be
submitted to the BFP-NHQ Operation Center on the prescribed
period. The Daily Accomplishment Report format shall be provided
in a separate 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
his absence, the DCO;
c. All Regional Directors, Provincial/ District, City and Municipal Fire
Marshals should take extra efforts to solicit the cooperation of the
volunteer fire brigades as force multipliers in all phases of
operations;
d. All participating units shall conduct Post Operation Analysis and
submit copy to the Office of the Director for Operations through
their respective Regional Director.
VII.

SCOPE:
The Implementing Plan of OPLAN PAGHALASA shall apply to all operating
units of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Page 10 of 11IMPLAN OF OPLAN PAGHALASA

Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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VIII.

EFFECTIVITY:
This IMPLAN shall take effect immediately upon approval of OPLAN
PAGHALASA.

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

Page 11 of 11IMPLAN OF OPLAN PAGHALASA

Originally signed by F/DIR ROLANDO M BANDILLA JR, CESO IV dated 20 October 2010
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