DILG pushes wider use of L!STO Manual to boost earthquake readiness

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged local government units (LGUs) to maximize the use of the Operation L!STO Manual on Disaster Preparedness for Earthquakes following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao.

The manual, developed in 2023 by the DILG's Local Government Academy in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and other stakeholders, provides science-based guidance for LGUs on disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation.

According to the DILG, the manual is part of Operation L!STO, a national disaster resilience program that promotes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to disaster risk reduction and management.“At the community level, LGUs serve as the frontline of defense against earthquakes. This Manual empowers them to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from earthquake-related disasters,” the Department said in a news release.

The manual prescribes specific measures for local chief executives, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, and barangays across four phases: Early Preparedness, Pre-Hazard Preparedness, Minimum Critical Preparedness, and Early Recovery and Rehabilitation.

Under the Early Preparedness phase, LGUs are advised to conduct earthquake risk assessments, prepare hazard maps, and develop contingency plans to mitigate potential impacts.

For the Pre-Hazard Preparedness phase, LGUs are directed to finalize emergency response protocols, ensure compliance with infrastructure safety standards, strengthen evacuation strategies, establish public warning systems, and regularly conduct simulation exercises, including participation in the quarterly nationwide earthquake drills.

The manual's Minimum Critical Preparedness phase is activated once an earthquake strikes, triggering the immediate implementation of response and early recovery measures. It includes a General Action Flowchart that outlines interventions based on earthquake intensity levels classified as Alpha (Intensity IV), Bravo (Intensity V-VI), and Charlie (Intensity VII and above).

For the Recovery and Rehabilitation phase, LGUs are instructed to activate pre-disaster recovery plans, conduct damage assessments, mobilize funding, and coordinate rehabilitation efforts.

The manual also calls for the preparation of a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report to support recovery planning, improve policies, and promote build-back-better initiatives.—LDF, GMA News