LGU Baguio approves public service continuity plan
The city government of Baguio approved Resolution Number 552, series of 2021, containing the local government’s Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP) having Nov. 1, 2021 as effectivity date.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum No. 33, series of 2018, enjoins all government member agencies at all levels to develop their own PSCP as operational guidebook in case a disaster cripples the delivery of public service.
Baguio City takes pride in being the first LGU in the Cordillera Administrative Region to have submitted its PSCP to the NDRRMC through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Baguio City’s PSCP was developed based on Executive Order Number 82, series of 2021, “Creating the Continuity Core Team for Public Service Continuity Plan, and Defining their Roles and Responsibilities.”
The continuity core team is mandated to formulate, test, execute, monitor and update the PSCP of the City of Baguio under the supervision of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Antonette Anaban as the Continuity Coordinator.
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 exist and deliver its functions to the public amid any disruption or disaster. This Public Service Continuity Plan (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 approved PSCP document.
The PSCP document will serve as a guide for immediate decision-making and reference for proper and effective 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 our essential functions and services with corresponding adjustments in processes and procedures;
*Activate immediately the 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 provision on the delivery of services by the critical suppliers;
*Ensure the inclusivity of the continuity plan to reach out to all sectors of the community; and
*Continuous improvement of the PSC plan through test, training and exercise program.
Aside from the general PSCP of the city government, all departments whose offices are located outside the City Hall shall draft their own plans.
Anaban, said to date, only the Local Civil Registry has a complete PSCP submitted to the CDRRMO from all the departments.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong acknowledged the need for an up-to-date PSCP considering the impact of natural disasters and other possible disruptive events affecting the city and with the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic crippling the economy.
“Since day one, 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 still existing 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,” Mayor Magalong stated.
He furthered, the task is formidable because government agencies and its personnel are just as vulnerable to hazards as the general public, but this (PSCP) plan should ensure continuity of operations through the restoration of mission essential functions and further guarantee that there will be no interruption in the provision of government service in response to any disastrous event.
“Each constituent deserves to have their government fully capable of protecting their lives and well-being,” Mayor Magalong said. – Jessa P. Samidan/PIO Baguio
