SOP(ETC)
Emergency Telecommunications Cluster Operations Protocol
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CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
As per reference with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) that intends for strengthening humanitarian response as a preliminary point, the protocol serves as a framework to guide international, national, regional, and down to barangay clusters’ level action in the emergency telecommunication activities. The activation and operationalization of the ETC will be the decision of the NDRRMC and/or the Civil Defense Administrator, OCD. The contexts in which this cluster will operate include large scale acute emergencies, protracted crises, and also in cases where there is no information being received from the affected LGUs/areas.
The ETC response operations are dependent on the volume and quality of information received and provided by government Clusters members. It will be responsible for coordinating the deployment and implementation of communications services and must fulfill the role of “Provider of Last Resort”. It will be the provider of communications, electronics and information system support services. Also, as part of the support response and coordination among clusters, the ETC will initially assess the ICT requirements and provide the means to facilitate the flow of information to and from different sources involved in the response operations.
The services that will be provided in disaster areas by the ETC through the RETT (Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Team) include communication reconnection access to facilitate telecommunications link/connections for response activities between the LGU Emergency Operations Center, Incident Command Posts and the higher levels of government (PDRRMC, RDRRMC, NDRRMC).
The Cluster will provide basic communications support services and shared voice radio network system. The Cluster will dispatch the RETT to the areas cut off from communication in coordination with the Logistics Cluster. The RETT will serve as rapid deployment team that will be the main focal for the Cluster and will mobilize all available assets of the AFP, PNP, BFP and PCG situated or in the vicinity of the affected area to cover all necessary emergency telecommunication requirements. The team will ensure that Cluster Members exchange information and expertise and provide personnel, equipment, system and solutions.
In a prolonged ICT operations in the disaster area, the RETT in partnership with its cluster members, will provide vital IT and telecoms services and prioritize innovation and use of existing information management tools to help humanitarian workers carry out operations efficiently and effectively. The ETC, through the RETT on-ground, will always facilitate communications, collaboration, cooperation, coordination and commitment among Cluster Members in every disaster operations.
Deactivation of the RETT will be upon full normalcy of the telecommunication system services of the affected LGUs as assessed and confirmed by the LCE/LDRRMC. RETT will follow formal hand-over of the ICT responsibility to concerned government unit before RETT returns to Central Office.
NDRRMC’s secured frequencies will be used for response operations to facilitate the coordination requirements of the ETC and other Response Clusters as well. These frequencies will be used solely by the members of the Response Clusters during Disaster operations.
The Cluster will conduct its own post disaster assessment that is internal to the group to identify good practices and areas for improvements.
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Emergency Telecomm_Operations Protocol_20140910_REV
