The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on local government units to maximize the use of the Operation L!STO Manual on Disaster Preparedness for Earthquakes to strengthen preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.
The appeal to fully utilize the manual came in the wake of the magnitude 7.8 quake that hit Mindanao and a warning from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) that all six trenches in the Philippines could generate an earthquake of 8.2 magnitude.
Developed in 2023 by the DILG’s Local Government Academy in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and other stakeholders, the Manual provides science-based guidance for LGUs in delivering frontline services before, during, and after major earthquakes.
It forms part of Operation L!STO, a national advocacy program that promotes disaster resilience through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
“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 DILG said.
The Manual outlines actions for local chief executives (LCEs), Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs), and barangays across four stages: Early Preparedness, Pre-Hazard Preparedness, Minimum Critical Preparedness, and Early Recovery and Rehabilitation.
Under Early Preparedness, LGUs are encouraged to conduct earthquake risk assessments, develop hazard maps, and formulate contingency plans as the foundation of disaster mitigation efforts.
During Pre-Hazard Preparedness, LGUs are expected to finalize response protocols, enforce infrastructure safety standards, strengthen evacuation plans, establish public warning systems, and conduct regular simulation exercises, including participation in quarterly nationwide earthquake drills.
When an earthquake occurs, the Minimum Critical Preparedness phase is activated, requiring the immediate implementation of disaster response plans and early recovery measures. The Manual includes a General Action Flowchart that guides interventions based on earthquake intensity levels classified as Alpha (Intensity IV), Bravo (Intensity V–VI), and Charlie (Intensity VII and above).
For Recovery and Rehabilitation, LGUs are directed to activate pre-disaster recovery plans to facilitate damage assessment, mobilize recovery financing, and coordinate rehabilitation efforts. The Manual also highlights the importance of preparing a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report to guide recovery planning, policy improvements, and build-back-better initiatives.
As the country remains highly vulnerable to seismic hazards, the DILG underscored the importance of institutionalizing preparedness and recovery mechanisms at the local level.
It emphasized that tools such as the Operation L!STO Manual enable LGUs to take a more proactive and coordinated approach to disaster risk reduction, helping communities respond faster, recover sooner, and build greater resilience against future earthquakes.