CLUSTER G: Search, Rescue and Retrieval Cluster Operations Protocol
Copy Number:
Issuing Agency: National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
Place of Issue: Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Date of Issue:
Integrated Plan: National Disaster Response Plan
- RATIONALE
Loss of lives and casualties are the main concern of all government agencies involved in disaster management. Pre-emptive evacuation have been the thrust of the government to save the lives of those that will be affected by the incoming disaster, but no matter how government act there are still those that are affected and needs to be rescue. The efficiency of doing response during disaster relies on the timely and organized deployment of Search and Rescue. The assistance given by the SAR during disaster and retrieval operations during post disaster are critical services that are needed to further minimize loss of lives and casualties.
The Search, Rescue and Retrieval Cluster was created to have a separate cluster that will deal directly to the needs and operational requirements needed on group in coordination with the other Response Clusters and affected LGUs.
- OBJECTIVE
The Search, Rescue and Retrieval Cluster aims to provide support for an effective, timely, organized and systematic search, rescue and retrieval operations to affected areas in all emergencies to further minimize loss of lives and casualties, including the hand-over of casualties to the Health Cluster for proper treatment and management. The SRR Cluster is the national organization that will coordinate and deploy all available Search and Rescue teams from the government, civil society, private sector and the international community.
- CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
The Lead agency of the SRR Cluster is the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The SRR Cluster will have two components: a) coordination of all Search and Rescue Teams deployed at the affected areas, and b) retrieval and declaration of the dead.
Upon the directive of the NDRRMC or the President, the Search, Rescue and Retrieval Cluster will be activated to preposition their teams to the projected affected areas. All SRR Teams will do monitoring and reporting of updates to the National SRR Cluster Lead. They will establish coordination with the LCE of the projected affected area for possible deployment.
Upon requests submitted or given to the NDRRMC which will be communicated to the Cluster Lead, the prepositioned SRR Teams will proceed to the affected areas and report to the LCE or Incident Commander for proper deployment. All SRR Teams will submit status reports to the IC and the Cluster Lead. Demobilization will be done upon the instruction of the IC.
The following are the key players and actors in the implementation of this concept.
- Lead Cluster Agency
a) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
i. During Disaster Phase
- Deployment of the necessary disaster response capabilities for coordinated and responsive conduct of Search, Rescue and Retrieval (SRR) operations at the disaster-affected communities:
- Mountain, Forest and Ravine Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Urban Search, Rescue and Retrieval (USRR) Teams capability:
- Collapsed Structure SRR Teams;
- Confined Space SRR Teams;
- Water SRR Teams (Open water/deep-water)
- Deployment of Road-Clearing/Debris-Clearing Operations Teams –Collapsed structure search and rescue
- Coordination with the Incident Commander
- Continuous assessment
ii. Post Disaster Phase
- Hand over
- Debriefing /AHR
- Reporting
- Consolidation
- Reorganization and redeployment
B. Cluster Member Agency
a) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
ii. During Disaster Phase
- Assist in the deployment of pre-positioned SRR Teams to assist the affected areas. SRR Teams to coordinate with the LCEs of the affected areas for proper endorsement to the Incident Command posts on ground.
- Collects status reports and requests of the deployed SRR Teams on ground.
- Submits status, requests and proposed actions to the NDRRMC to integrate all activities at the NDRRMC Operations Center.
- Establishment of command posts at the Manila office and at the affected areas for multi-SRR Teams including those from international agencies and INGOs.
- Coordinates with other response clusters for their SRR requirements.
- Deployment of batches of SRR Teams for augmentation at the affected areas.
- Coordinates with the LGU/s to determine the areas for proper management of mass dead.
- Activates Mass Dead Management Task Force to determine the requirements in coordination with the affected LGU/s.
- Submits the MDM Task Force status reports to the NDRRMC.
iii. Post Disaster Phase
- Works a schedule for turn-over of all retrieval operations with the LGU/s.
- Prepares and submits a report of all operations to the NDRRMC.
b) Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)
FOR EQ& T
i. Pre-Disaster Phase
- Coordinate the prepositioning of SRR assets with RDRRMCs/OCDRCs
- Alert and put on standby all partner SRR groups of OCD-NDRRMC
- ii. During Disaster Phase
- Monitors situation in the ground from RDRRM OpCen.
- Receives request for SRR augmentation.
- Issuance and dissemination of deployment orders.
- Deployment of SRR augmentation groups in coordination with the DRRMCs and Cluster head.
- Refer SRR offers from local and international groups to the Cluster Lead for clearance prior to acceptance.
iii. Post Disaster Phase
- Consolidate and prepare report for submission.
- Debriefing of SRR groups at the national level in coordination with DOH.
FOR EQ ONLY
ii. During Disaster Phase
- Monitors situation in the ground from RDRRM OpCen.
- Receives request for SRR augmentation.
- Issuance and dissemination of deployment orders.
- Deployment of SRR augmentation groups in coordination with the DRRMCs and Cluster head.
- Refer SRR offers from local and international groups to the Cluster Lead for clearance prior to acceptance.
iii. Post Disaster Phase
- Consolidate and prepare report for submission.
- Debriefing of SRR groups at the national level in coordination with DOH.
b) Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
i. During Disaster Phase
- Deploy required numbers of DRGs with equipment.
- Deploy floating and air assets for SAR operations.
- Support other tasks as requested by DRRMC.
ii. Post Disaster Phase
- Conduct retrieval operations as per request by the Council after the approval of Commandant, PCG.
- Evaluate and assess the operations performance for necessary improvements
c) Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
i. During Disaster Phase
- Deployment/mobilization of BFP personnel composed of firefighters, EMS and Rescue in the identified affected area in coordination with their respective DRRMC. to perform basic fire suppression, rescue and emergency medical services functions.
- Perform other functions as requested within the mandate and capacity of BFP
ii. Post Disaster Phase
- Assists the cluster in collapse structure search rescue and retrieval operations
d) Department of Health (DOH)
Shall assist in the coordination of casualties for proper medical health treatment and the dead for proper identification and burial.
e) Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)===PHIVOLCS
i. During Disaster Phase
- To conduct technical knowledge sharing relative to possible recurrence of hazards
- To identify /locate areas might be affected by these hazards to ensure the team’s safety and assist in locating alternative routes and/or strategies for effective mobilization.
f) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
- Shall assist the SRR Teams by providing all necessary and available assets that can be utilized in the rescue or retrieval operations.
- Assist in the clearing of roads so SRR teams can penetrate the area
g) Philippine Red Cross (PRC)
ii. During Disaster Phase
- Rapid assessment and coordination
- Develop PRC operational action plan
- Mobilization of logistical support to augment chapter response capacity, and/or field base operation managed by PRC-NAQ
- Mobilization and deployment of required teams in disaster operations such as ERU, WASAR, DSP, etc.
- Provide pre-hospital care for injured and ill–persons (ambulance-patient transport if needed)
- Continuous monitoring of the situation
- Conduct after operation de-briefing
iii. Post Disaster Phase
- Conduct post-disaster and need assessment
- Conduct of inventory of resources
- Prepare and submit operation report
- Conduct debriefing
h) Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
Shall provide SRR Teams available for deployment to the affected areas in coordination with the National SRR Cluster Lead.
i) REACT
ii. During Disaster Phase
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Turn-over team to cluster head for dispatch
iii. Post Disaster Phase
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Demobilization with cluster
- Debriefing and evaluation
j) Volunteers/Civil Society Organizations
All Volunteer SRR Teams will coordinate with the National SRR Cluster Lead for proper deployment to the affected areas.
k) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
- Shall lead the Mass Dead Management Task Force upon the activation of the SRR Cluster Head.
- Shall coordinate and manage the requirements of identifying and burial of all dead victims with the MDM Task Force.
- Submits status reports to the Cluster Lead including request for additional manpower to hasten the process of identification and proper burial of the dead.
- Shall coordinate with the Interpol for the appropriate guidelines for identification and documentation of the dead victims. s
l) Department of Health (DOH)
- DOH hospitals in the area to provide health services
- Assist SRR in the provision of health services in special situations (e.g. amputations for trapped patients)
- Augment logistics (e.g. PPE, chemoprophylaxis medications, vaccines, etc.)
- Provide technical assistance on health and safety concerns
m) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Shall provide assistance in the processing of incoming SRR Teams from regional and international community
n) Telcos
ii. During Disaster Phase
- Directive to deploy SAR had been issued
- Information/Alert (Cell broadcast/communication support/Libreng Tawag)
- Quick deployment of communications solution (satellite phones, internet, instant network)
- Social media engagement with rescue coordination groups (relief.ph;rescue.ph)
iii. Post Disaster Phase
- Demobilization of SRR
– Network audit
– Network monitoring
p) Philippine National Police (PNP)
i. During Disaster Phase
- Deployment of SAR teams to affected areas
- Road clearing operations with concerned agencies.
- Further issuance of detail orders for additional personnel if needed.
- Provide public information on road conditions due to hazards/debris.
- Coordinates with NDRRMC re progress and daily updates of the situation.
- Remind D-Staffs and NSUs re Directive on establishing the communication and checking the status of their respective line units’ counterparts.
- Provides officer representative at SMR-NOC.
- Monitors the situation.
- Coordinates for Chartered/Humanitarian Flights and Sea Voyages.
- Alert units for augmentation to affected areas.
ii. Post Disaster Phase
- Security assistance to relief shelters/delivery of relief goods
- Inform higher offices re progress and updates for the information of the monitoring public
- Conduct de-briefing with concerned agencies to determine the probable areas to improve based on the previous responses.
- Directs line units or sends representative as part of augmentation in affected area to:
a. Assumes duties and responsibilities of affected PCR units to document (in pictures and reports) PCR related activities in disaster affected area. The representative sent should bring camera, laptop, internet gadgets, etc;
b. Acts as liaison of augmentation unit to coordinate and attend meetings with local SRRMs and international humanitarian agencies and clusters.
c. Informs NDOC re progress and updates.
5. Sends representative to NDRRMC to attend coordinative meetings.
6. Secretariat updates the Chairman, SCDM.
7. Chairman/Task Coordinator SCDM recommends to the Chairman, CIMC for the de-activation of the PNP NDOC-SMR.
8. Reviews/evaluates personnel performance of policing during disaster.
9. Recommends for the issuance of disaster related awards for personnel involved.
10. Direct line units to refrain from issuing pronouncement unless validated.
11.Directs PCRG to liaise in coordination with DPCR/RPCRD representative at the disaster area.
12. Consolidates lessons learned for dissemination.
13.Prepares post disaster assessment report.
14. Directs deployment of NHQ DIMTG or adjacent PRO DIMTG to affected areas.
15. Coordinates for Chartered/Humanitarian Flights and Sea Voyages.
16. Receives and issue directives regarding request for security in affected area.
17. Directs and supervise Adjacent PROs to:
a. Reinforce affected units in disaster areas; and
b. Assure route security and prioritization of relief caravans passing through their AOR.
18. Directs line units or sends representative as part of augmentation personnel in affected area and assumes duties and responsibilities of affected units.
19. Conducts de-briefing with concerned agencies to determine the probable areas to improve based on the previous responses
20. Monitors and consolidates relevant reports for appropriate actions in NDOC.
21. Reviews/ evaluates personnel performance of policing diring disaster.
- CONCEPT OF SUSTAINMENT
a) The DILG as Cluster Lead will coordinate all support and requirements of response committee in their activities to augment the requirements at the affected areas during disasters.
b) Concerned government agencies and their subordinate offices shall utilize their respective internal personnel. Additional personnel requirements shall be coordinated through the NDRRMC in collaboration with all Council members.
- COMMAND AND CONTROL
A. Command Relationship – all DRRM actors and key players will refer and based their actions as prescribed in IRR of R.A. 1021, Rule 3, Section 2. Composition
B. Command Center – National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
a) Succession of Command:
(1) Chairperson, NDRRMC (S, DND)
(2) Vice-Chairperson for Disaster Response (S, DSWD)
(3) SRR Cluster Lead (DILG)
(4) SRR Cluster Members
a) Interagency Communication System Support
For the entire duration of the operations, the existing means of communications shall be utilized whatever is applicable. However, the Emergency Telecommunication Cluster will be activated once communication is cut-off from the affected areas.
FOR GUIDANCE AND STRICT COMPLIANCE
SEC VOLTAIRE GAZMIN
Chairperson, NDRRMC
Department of National Defense
