UPRI-IB conducts a Focus Group Discussion with UP Cebu following the Sept. 30 Northern Cebu Earthquake

Written by: Patrick Ryan Bello, Franklin Joshua G. Gali, and Jonathan David M. Maligalig

On 8 October 2025, a contingent from the Institution Building Division under UP Resilience Institute (UPRI-IB) led by Chief SRS Jose Abraham Ongkiko conducted an FGD with UP Cebu administrative officials and student representatives from the University Student Council, and Lahug Main and South Road Properties (SRP) Campuses.

The FGD started with a Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP) orientation facilitated by Senior Project Assistant Patrick Ryan Bello and Chief SRS Sonny Ongkiko, referencing Memorandum Circular No. 02, s. 2023 of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Near its conclusion, Junior Project Assistant Jonathan David Maligalig relayed preliminary results of the MATATAG-Check, highlighting best practices of the UP Cebu and areas for improvement, alongside initial recommendations. It ended with JPA Franklin Joshua Gali introducing the Mission Essential Functions (MEFs) and Return Time Objectives (RTOs), a module of the PSCP.

Significant questions raised during the FGD revolved around UP Cebu’s activation of the ICS; response to the earthquake; employed communication strategies; gaps identified by the various stakeholders most especially the USC and the representatives from the SRP campus; services, activities and programs that were implemented or were halted; available resources and requirements; and ways forward.

As a result of the FGD findings, UPRI-IB emphasizes that a student-centric PSCP be formulated, implemented, maintained and tested by UP Cebu. This would better prepare the campus to respond to the areas identified, further enhancing the campus’ disaster preparedness in the future. It will also give opportunities to UP Cebu to identify resources it would need for its response programs and continuity of operations, especially when addressing the needs of its students. This hopefully will culminate in the eventual adoption of UP Cebu’s student-centric PSCP by other CUs.