EMERGENCY

EOC OPERATIONS CENTER

TRAINING COURSE

TRAINING COURSE
DESIGN
 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
TRAINING COURSE DESIGN

Prepared by:

ROSE ANN S. TIERRA

Training Specialist II
Curriculum Development Division

Recommending approval:

DIR. SUSANA G. JUANGCO, RN, MPH

Capacity Building and Training Service

Approved by:

USEC RICARDO B. JALAD

Administrator, OCD

TRAINING COURSE DESIGN

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Capacity Building and Training Service (CBTS) would like to convey its
appreciation to Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, Administrator of the Office of Civil
Defense (OCD) and Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC) for his overall leadership and unwavering support to
the Service in the implementation of DRRM training and capacity building programs for
various stakeholders.

Special mention is given to the following personnel who were involved in the
development of the Emergency Operations Center training course design and
package:

NAME AGENCY/ OFFICE / ORGANIZATION

Dir. Susana G. Juangco OCD CBTS
Ms. Aimee Menguilla OCD CBTS
Ms. Rose Ann Tierra OCD CBTS
Ms. Shereen Lucas-Hombrebueno OCD CBTS
Ms. Rachelle Anne Miranda OCD CBTS
Ms. Charito Madrideo OCD CBTS
Ms. Ma. Criscia Alonte OCD CBTS
Mr. Benjamin Franco Gaon OCD CBTS
Mr. Randy N. de la Paz OCD Region IV-A
Mr. Robin E. Lim DILG
Mr. Rafael Olivar DICT
Mr.Richard Buenafe DICT
Ma. Florinda Princess E. Duque PCOO
Anthony Ross Zuniga PDRF
Mr. Joe-Mar Perez OCD OS

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 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

Background

As provided for in the Republic Act (RA) 10121, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), as
the Executive Arm and Secretariat of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC), is mandated to establish standard operating
procedures (SOPs) for coordination across all phases of disaster. Under the thematic
area of Disaster Response, one of the coordinating mechanisms established is the
Incident Command System (ICS). Introduced in the country by the United States Forest
Service (USFS), ICS is a standard, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept
that can be used by all response groups. It helped to enhance the operations of
responders particularly in ensuring accountability, facilitating proper resource
management, and promoting safety.

Aside from ICS, another significant disaster response program of the NDRRMC is the
Cluster Approach. As stipulated in the National Disaster Response Plan, the Response
Clusters shall serve as the operating mechanisms to provide widespread support in
terms of resources pooling and mobilization for massive humanitarian assistance and
disaster response services.

The ICS and the Cluster Approach are two distinct yet complementary systems. As
evidenced by past major operations for disasters and planned events in the country,
both systems effectively complement each other by using the “force-provider” and
“force-employer” relationship. ICS, as the “force employer”, is used to manage on-
scene response while the Response Clusters, as the “force providers”, act as
supporters to the Incident Management Teams (IMTs).

To facilitate the interoperability of these two (2) important entities, the Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) has been underscored. The EOC is the facility equipped with
personnel and resources that serves as repository of information and main hub for
coordination to support the management of an incident or planned event. In this
context, the EOC acts as the link between the IMTs and the Response Clusters.

While RA 10121 clearly requires the establishment of operation centers across all the
DRRMC levels, there have been no clear guidelines and training as to how to properly
manage and operate an EOC. Evidently, establishing an EOC as physical facility
complete with monitoring tools and communications equipment is not enough given all
the complexities of providing linkages between the IMTs and the Response Clusters.
While there are some well-maintained and sophisticated EOCs established in some

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parts of the countries, there has been no common operating procedure as to how inter-
agency and multi-level coordination of response shall be facilitated.

In this regard, the EOC training course is hereby prepared.

Course Objectives

General Objective

At the end of the training, the participants will be able to obtain the knowledge and
skills required in the effective operationalization and management of an EOC.

Specific Objectives
Upon completion of the training, the participants will be able to:

1. Discuss the concept of the EOC, its legal mandate, and role in the broader
spectrum of the Philippine DRRM system;
2. Discuss the approaches for the EOC operations;
3. Describe the considerations for staffing and organizing an EOC;
4. Determine the physical requirements for establishing an EOC;
5. Explain the communication essentials of an EOC;
6. Discuss the considerations for information management as applied in an EOC;
7. Explain the importance of the EOC planning process; and
8. Describe the approaches in ensuring the readiness of an EOC.

Teaching-Learning Methodologies

As we transition into the “new normal,” the OCD-CBTS ushers its participants into a
variety of online tools designed to fit the course and accommodate its learners. The
course utilizes the following teaching-learning methods:

• Self-Paced Learning is a method in which the learners can control the amount
of material content they consume, as well as the duration of time needed to
learn the new information properly. Note however, each self-paced session is
given a corresponding technical training time credit.
• Video teleconferencing (VTC) is a learning technology that facilitates the
communication and interaction of two or more users through a combination of

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 high-quality audio and video over the internet. As face-to-face learning is
currently adjourned, VTC is used for lectures and other interaction.
• Online Evaluation, in the forms of pre-training and post-training tests, is
administered to assess the effectiveness of the training course. Likewise, self-
paced quizzes and assignments are given during for the course duration.

Module Descriptions

MODULE METHODOLOGY DESCRIPTION

This module is an introduction to the

Introduction to
concept of the EOC, its legal mandate,
Emergency Self-paced
and role in the broader spectrum of the
Operations Center
Philippine DRRM system.
This is an introduction to the concept of
Introduction to
ICS, highlighting its background and
Incident Command Self-paced
development as well as its key features
System
and principles.
This module highlights how to
Module 1: operationalize an EOC, including the
VTC
EOC Operations relationship between EOC staff,
including clusters, and IMTs.
This module discusses the
Module 2: considerations for staffing and organizing
EOC Organization VTC an EOC in accordance with the
and Staffing principles of ICS, and considerations for
EOC staffing and stress management.
Module 3: EOC This module highlights the essentials in
Facility Design and VTC establishing the EOC as a facility as well
Requirements as other building requirements.
Module 4: This module covers the primary
Determining EOC requirements for EOC communications
VTC
Communication and common communication
Requirements technologies.
This module highlights how to determine
Module 5: EOC
EOC information needs, the importance
Information
VTC of information management systems,
Management
and meeting public information
Requirement
demands.

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 MODULE METHODOLOGY DESCRIPTION

This module underscores the importance

Module 6: EOC
VTC of action planning to achieve EOC
Planning Process
priorities.
This module highlights key
Module 7: EOC recommendations on ensuring the
VTC
Readiness capability readiness of an EOC as part of
the ways ahead.

Duration and Schedule

Five (5) days with a total of 25 training hours (13.5 hours self-paced and 11.5
hours VTC).

Course Schedule
Day 1: Pre-Work (Around 7 hours and 30 minutes)
(VTC: 1 hour and 30 minutes; Self-paced 6 hours)
Time Particulars Duration Methodology
0830H – 0930H Training Orientation 1 hour VTC
0930H –1000H Course Overview 30 minutes VTC
N/A Pre-Test 1 hour Self-paced
Introduction to Emergency
N/A 2 hours Self-paced
Operations Center
Introduction to Incident
N/A 2 hours Self-paced
Command System
N/A Assignment 1: Situation Analysis 1 hour Self-paced

Day 2: Around 5 hours and 30 minutes

(VTC: 3 hours and 30 minutes; Self-paced: 2 hours)
Time Particulars Duration Methodology
0800H – 0830H Recap 30 minutes VTC
1 hour and 30
0830H – 1000H Module 1: EOC Operations VTC
minutes
1000H – 1015H Open Forum 15 minutes VTC
Module 2: EOC Organization
1015H – 1115H 1 hour VTC
and Staffing
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 Time Particulars Duration Methodology
1115H – 1130H Open Forum 15 minutes VTC
Assignment 2: Stakeholders
N/A 2 hours Self-paced
Identification

Day 3: Around 4 hours and 30 minutes

(VTC: 3 hours and 30 minutes; Self-paced: 1 hour)
Time Particulars Duration Methodology
0800H – 0830H Recap 30 minutes VTC
Module 3: EOC Facility
0830H – 0930H 1 hour VTC
Design and Requirements
0930H – 0945H Open Forum 15 minutes VTC
Module 4: Determining EOC
0945H – 1030H 45 minutes VTC
Communication Requirements
Module 5: EOC Information
1030H – 1115H 45 minutes VTC
Management Requirements
1115H – 1130H Open Forum 15 minutes VTC
Assignment 3: Essential
N/A 1 hour Self-paced
Elements of Information

Day 4: Around 5 hours and 30 minutes

(VTC: 3 hours; Self-paced: 2 hours and 30 minutes)
Time Particulars Duration Methodology
0800H – 0830H Recap 30 minutes VTC
Module 6: EOC Planning
0830H – 0930H 1 hour VTC
Process
0930H – 1000H Open Forum 15 minutes VTC
1000H – 1100H Module 7: EOC Readiness 1 hour VTC
1100H – 1130H Open Forum 15 minutes VTC
Assignment 4: EOC Action 2 hours and 30
N/A Self-paced
Planning minutes

Day 5 Post-Training: Around 2 hours Self-paced

Time Particulars Duration Methodology
N/A Post-Test 1 hour Self-paced
N/A Training Evaluation 1 hour Self-paced

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Participants

• Must have knowledge and experience in the field of DRRM

• Must have completed the Basic ICS Training
• Willing to take leadership roles in an EOC or any similar facility after the
course

Training Requirements

Number of Course Monitor, Trainers/ Number of Number of

Facilitators, and Secretariat Training Days Training Hours

25
1 Course Monitor
(13.5 hours self-
1 Facilitator for every 8 participants 5 training days
paced and 11.5
2 Secretariat
hours VTC)

Evaluation

Level 1: Reaction Level

• Module Evaluation
• Instructors Evaluation
• Overall Training Evaluation

Level 2: Learning Level

• Pre-Test
• Post-Test

Certification

The issuance of certificates shall adhere to the requirements pursuant to OCD Office
Order 182, s. 2017: Guidelines on the Implementation of OCD Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management (DRRM) Training Courses. Per item 8.8.3.1,
“Certificate of Completion shall be awarded to trainees who attended all sessions and
successfully satisfied the requirements of the training course.” This includes the active
participation in the activities and the completion of Level 2: Learning Level Evaluation
with a passing grade (50% + 1). Per item 8.8.4 of the said OCD Office Order,
“Certificate of Participation shall be given if the trainee missed a maximum of 5% of

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the required training hours and/or was not able to satisfactorily perform based on the
set objectives of the training course.”

Further, pursuant to OCD Office Order No. 196, s. 2019: Revised Guidelines on the
Implementation of Levels 1 and 2 Evaluation for DRRM Training, in item 9.2, it is
specified that a participant shall be required to take the pre-test and post-test under
the following conditions to receive Certificate of Completion:

• Pre-test: must accomplish the pre-test but no passing grade required

• Post-test: must earn a passing grade (60% of the total test items) or higher

Gender Sensitivity and Responsiveness

The OCD upholds the principles of gender and development in the implementation of
all its training programs. Hence, it is important for all attendees to maintain gender
sensitivity and responsiveness throughout the course.

Contact Details

For further inquiries, you may contact:

Capacity Building and Training Service
Office of Civil Defense Central Office
8912 - 4832 / 8421-1926
cbts@ocd.gov.ph

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