DOST-CALABARZON, OCD-CALABARZON conduct PSCP Tabletop Exercise to ensure continuous service delivery amid The Big One and other looming disasters

By: Halyn Lunel Gamboa

July 27, 2023

2–4 minutes

Through the collaboration of DOST-CALABARZON’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Unit and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) CALABARZON, the implementation of DOST-CALABARZON’s Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP) was re-examined in a Tabletop Exercise where unit heads and staff provided inputs about the restoration of their services vis-a-vis the mission essential functions.

The discussion was led by Mr. Randy N. de la Paz, the Chief of Operations of the OCD CALABARZON together with Engr. Jenny Lawas and Mr. Raphael San Antonio of the DOST-CALABARZON’s DRRM Unit, and was held last July 13, 2023 from 10:00AM to 3:00PM at the DOST IV-A Regional Office.

The exercise aims to examine and evaluate unit heads’ and process owners’ awareness on the existing PSCP of the organization; identify and enumerate vulnerabilities and gaps on inter-operability of existing policies, plans, and procedures/protocols and address deficiencies on preparedness and response measures; and enable streamlining of decision-making processes within and among DOST-CALABARZON key officials based on the existing plans, policies, and protocols.

These objectives are integrated in the three modules specifically on the pre-activation, activation, and post-activation/de-escalation of the PSCP.

When asked what prompted the unit to collaborate and conduct the activity, Mr. Antonio of the DRRM Unit said that it was to cope with the previous action plans for the PSCP which included its testing and maintenance, since the PSCP is recommended to be updated and tested annually.

“The PSCP is very important for our organization to have a clear protocol on what to do during times of disruptive events,” Mr. San Antonio added, “It identifies the mission essential functions, processes, and procedures to ensure they can be recovered when normal operations are discontinued in the least possible time while also safeguarding human lives.”
DOST-CALABARZON is also known to provide various laboratory testing and calibration services to its regional and provincial clients. The exercise provided a platform to discuss challenges in this aspect, especially amid disasters.

Ms. Agnes Morales, Senior Science Research Specialist II and the Head of the Regoional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL) of DOST-CALABARZON expressed that awareness of an organization’s PSCP is a significant step towards its effective implementation. She also said that such awareness is critical for the continuous operations and service delivery of DOST-CALABARZON’s laboratories.

“Our laboratories have specific safety guidelines and preparations to ensure that service provision is continuous,” Ms. Morales shared. “Through the OneLab referral system, laboratory testing and calibration services can still be provided.”

OneLab is a network of laboratories aimed at ensuring availability and broadening public access to testing and calibration services at a single touchpoint through an IT-based platform. It uniquely facilitates the seamless laboratory transaction from sample receipt to release of test result as facilitated by the OneLab Referral System.

Meanwhile, Ms. Janice Irene Berris, Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOST-CALABARZON, also emphasized the importance of strengthening linkages and strategies in optimizing the use of the organization’s limited resources.
She added, “Mahalaga na handa ang ahensya na mabilis makapag-operate after ng disaster para agad na makarespond sa mga taong kailangan ng assistance natin.”

The drafting of the PSCP dates back to 2017 when the National Resilience Core Group on MSME Disaster Resilience (RCG) collaborated with DOST and other government agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense in assessing organizational risks and hazards. The PSCP template was eventually distributed through the NDRRMC Memorandum Circular No. 33 s. 2018.