The UP Resilience Institute Institution Building (IB) Office conducted a 2-day Training-Workshop on the crafting of the Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP) on July 13-14 in UP Baguio as part of their Resilient Campuses Program for all UP Constituent Units. Prior to the workshop, a preliminary meeting was held via a zoom meeting to discuss the logistic arrangements and the expected participants for this activity. The IB team visited the campus grounds a day before the training-workshop, and had a brief meeting with UP Baguio Chancellor, Dr. Corazon L. Abansi.
During the first day, Dr. Santos Jose O. Dacanay III, the Vice Chancellor for Administration of UP Baguio, gave an opening message to all the participants, setting the mood for the training as he encouraged them to actively participate. Shortly after that, Ms. Victoria Lourdes C. Diaz, Head of the Office University Registrar, presented the summary of their existing PSCP.
The training proper began with the discussion of Dir. Genaro Cuaresma on the Overview of the Resilient Campuses Program. Specifically, he gave a brief introduction about the mandate of UP RI and the functions of its different offices, he also explained disaster risk related terms, and the legal bases on the crafting of PSCP. This was followed by a forum.
Ms. Daffodil Cleto, a Science Research Specialist II of the team, briefly discussed the submitted evaluation of the recent second quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on 8 June in UP Baguio. Afterwards, she discussed Policy Formulation as a major part of their PSCP. This was followed by a plenary workshop on the updating of their policy statements in their existing PSCP. They have developed and finalized their policy statements which are anchored in (1) the saving lives and properties, (2) minimizing losses, (3) optimizing use of resources, and (4) systematized coordination.
In the afternoon session, Mr. Jose Abraham Ongkiko, the Chief Science Research Specialist of the team, discussed the hazard identification and risk assessment in the context of UP Baguio. He presented the hazard maps and overlay analysis on the identified natural hazards in the campus which are flooding, groundshaking, liquefaction, rain-Induced landslides, and severe winds. These hazard maps were developed by UP RI’s Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center. Mr. Ongkiko also discussed what anthropogenic and natech hazards are. This was followed by a validation workshop where the participants enumerated the hazards within the campus (both natural, and anthropogenic). The participants have rated each of the hazard’s probability of occurrence, and rate of impact on lives, properties, and operations. Based on the scores, they ranked the priority hazards that they should plan for.
Ms. Anjanette Mariano, another Science Research Specialist II of the team, discussed about the Mission Essential Functions (MEFs), Identification of Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs), Impact Analysis, and Continuity Strategies which is the core component of the PSCP. After her discussion, the team organized them in groups depending on their scope of work and expertise. During the workshop each of the offices have identified their MEFs and their corresponding RTOs which will be the basis for their continuity strategies. Further, they have identified the resource requirements in order to ensure the continuity of their MEFs specifically for their vital records, people (faculty, staff, and students), facilities and equipment, and communications and technology.
During the morning session of the second day, the output of the workshops on (1) hazard identification and risk assessment, and (2) MEFs, Identification of RTOs, Impact Analysis, and Continuity Strategies. Dir. Cuaresma gave comments on their initial work, and they have updated their outputs accordingly. This was followed by the discussion of Mr. Rojo Guerrero Padilla, the Supervising Research Science Specialist of the team, on the Activation, Deactivation, and Non Activation of the PSCP.
In the afternoon session, Dir. Cuaresma discussed the final module which is about the communication plan of UP Baguio. Aside from all the contents of their existing PSCP, he mentioned that this is the one that is missing in the plan. Specifically, he discussed the four procedures to be used by the university in coordinating and relaying information to the top management, employees, and its internal and external stakeholders. These are (1) the communications diagram, (2) notifications, (3) call tree, and (4) media releases. This was followed by a forum.
The participants consisted of vice chancellors, college deans, office directors, department heads, faculty, staff, nurses, and key representatives from the different units in UP Baguio whose contribution is crucial in the crafting of the University’s PSCP. Dir. Cuaresma commended their active participation during the workshop, and asked them to have their revised draft submitted to UP RI after a month for review and evaluation.
Chancellor Abansi gave her closing remarks in the training session, and expressed her appreciation to UP RI for their initiative in assisting UP Baguio in updating their PSCP.
Throughout the 2-day training-workshop, Ms. Hazel Victoriano, an Administrative Officer IV of the team, acted as the host. On the other hand, Ms. Jerzyne Anne, a Junior Researcher, took charge of the technical matters of the event, while Mr. Ian Gonzales took charge of the attendance and evaluation of the participants.
By Anjanette B. Mariano (July 20, 2023)
