CHAPTER 3

CRISIS
MANAGEMENT
POLICY
Legal Regimes in Crisis
Management
In order to ensure effective and appropriate crisis
management Levels of the government, several laws
have been passed; some of these laws are;
1. Section 4 and 5. Article IL, 1987 Constitution
It emphasizes the duty of the Government, which
is to serve protect the people (1987 Constitution, Article
II, Section 4). And expresses the idea that, the
maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life,
liberty, and property, and promotion of the general
welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people
of the blessings of democracy (Article II, Section s)
2. Section 6, Article XVI, 1987 Constitution
It states that the State shall establish and
maintain one police force, which shall be
national in scope and civilian in character, to be
administered and controlled by a national police
commission.
3. RA 7160 or Local Government Code
RA 7160 otherwise known as the Local
Government Codes was enacted into law,
transferring control and responsibility of Delivering
basic services to the hands of local government units
(LGU, It aimed to enhance provision of services at the
local level as well as improve the efficiency in resource
allocation,
This code establishes the system and defines powers of provincial, city.
Municipal and barangay governments in the Philippines. It provides for a
more responsive local government structure instituted through a system
of decentralization whereby Local Government Units are delegated more
powers, authority. Responsibilities and resources.
Chapter III, Article 1, Section 444 It lays down the following
responsibilities of Mayor
• To act as the deputized representative of the National Police
Commission;
• To formulate the peace and order plan of the municipality and upon its
approval. Implement the same and exercise general and Operational
control and supervision over the Local police forces in the municipality.
• To call upon the appropriate law enforcement agencies to suppress
disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition or to apprehend
violators of the law when public interest so requires and the municipal
police forces are inadequate to cope with the situation or the violators.
4. RA. 6975 or DILG Act of 1990

R.A. 6975 is also known as the Department of the Interior and Local
Government Act of 1990 (R.A. 6975, Section 1, 1990). It Is an act that
establishes the Philippine National Police under a reorganized Department
of the Interior and Local Government. It aims to bolster a system of
coordination and cooperation among the citizenry, local executives and
the integrated law enforcement and public safety agencies, in order to
promote peace and order, ensure public safety and further strengthen
local government capability (R.A. 6975, Section 2, 1990).
• Section51
It states that the city and municipal mayors shall exercise operational
supervision and control over PNP units in their respective jurisdiction
except during the thirty (30)day period immediately preceding and the
thirty (30) days following any national, local and barangay elections (R.A.
6975, Section 51, 1990).
5. Executive Order No. 309 of 1987
This executive order created the National Peace
and Order Council (NPOC): and Local Peace and
Order Councils, in order to be fully coordinated
to effectively prevent and suppress criminality
and to maintain public order and safety in the
land. The Peace and Order Council is organized
on the national, regional, provincial, city and
municipal levels of government (EO. 309, 1987,
Section 1).
6. Executive Order No. 366, of 1996
This executive order amended the EO 309 of
1987 and created the Barangay Peace and Order
Committees, to serve as the implementing arm of
the Local Government Peace and Order Council at
7. Republic Act 10121 or Philippine Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Act of 2010
This law paved the way for the institutionalization of
the Proactive Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management (DRRM)” “DRRM approach is the
systematic process of using administrative directives,
organizations, and operational skills and capacities to
implement strategies, policies and improved coping
capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of
hazards and the possibility of disaster.
8. Executive Order No. 336, of 2001
This law establishes the National Council for Civil
Aviation Security (NCCAS) formerly known as National
Action Committee Anti-Terrorism (NACAHT) (EO 336,
2001 on Anti-Hijacking and Section 1). NCCAS serves
as effective mechanism primarily to contain threats of
aviation- -related terrorism and secondarily to
 Policy on Terrorism particularly
on Hostage- Taking Situations
These principles were highlighted on the Memorandum
Order No. Of 2000, as part of the government’s effort to
modify and improve policies that address crisis situations
arising from terrorism.
1. Subscription to Anti-Terrorism Covenants
The Philippines subscribes to all international
conventions and Initiatives against terrorisms and
will participate in all endeavors designed to
strengthen international cooperation in order to
prevent and neutralize terroristic acts (PNP. 1996,
p. 15)
 2. Peaceful Means and other Options in the Resolution of a
Crisis
The government must utilize and exhaust all peaceful
means in seeking a resolution to a crisis. This is to prevent
or at least minimize. The loss of life and destruction of
property. Once all peaceful measures are exhausted, the
government shall act promptly, decisively and effectively,
by choosing from the whole range of police and military
actions appropriate to the circumstances. Armed action
shall be calibrated as required by the situation, to ensure
the safety of victims and innocent civilians (PNP. 1996. P-
15).
3.Coordinated and Calculated Response Against Terrorism
The government must ensure that it fully maximizes the
National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) through the Crisis
management committees. To start and maintain a
comprehensive planning and research in order to develop a
4. Terrorism as a Criminal Act
The government considers all terrorist actions,
regardless of motivation, as criminal acts These acts a
prosecuted and penalty under the Revised Penal Code
and appropriate the special laws. It shall undertake all
lawful measures to prevent such conduct of such acts
and bring to justice perpetrators of terrorism (PNP
1996, p. 25)

5. No-Compromise with Terrorists

The government must not fall to blackmail or terror
demands. It should not grant any ransom and
concessions that benefits the perpetrators and give
terrorists an operational advantage over the
government. Terrorists must be prevented or be
denied from benefiting from the fruits of their crime
6. Respect for Human Rights
All government personnel responding to any crisis
situation shall at all times respect human rights of
people, including those suspects of terrorist
activities (MO 121, 2000, Section 1).
7. Prompt Handling of a Crisis at the Lowest Level
Possible
All terrorist-based crises are generally police
matters and shall Be handled as such unless the
situation escalates into that which requires a
higher unit of authority to carryout the
government’s Anti Terrorism Policy. These
empowers the in dealing with crisis incidents,
since it calls for police, military and local
government units (LGUs) to build the capability to
8. Public Information Management and Advocacy
The government shall ensure the prudent handling of
information to from the Media by conducting advocacy
steps effectively convey its position. It shall ensure that
the information it disseminate will not prejudice nor
hamper ongoing operations or crisis management process.
In addition to this it shall ensure the government officials
involved in the crisis speak with one voice.( MO121, 2000,
Section 1)

9. Safety of Victims and Civilians

It shall also the safety of victims and civilians shall be the
government primordial concern in the resolution of a
crisis. In Situations with, the government shall act in
accordance with policies and maintain close contact and
coordination with foreign governments concerned ( MO
121,2000, Section 1)
Policy on Anti-Terrorism
These principles are indicated in the RA. 1479 of 2020 or The
Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020,

1. The protection of life, liberty, and property from

terrorism;
2. The condemnation of terrorism as inimical and
dangerous to the national security of the country and to the
welfare of the people; and
3. The treatment of any act of terrorism as a crime
against the Filipino people, against humanity. And against the
laws of Nations.
Policy on
Disaster Risk
Reduction and
Management
The Philippine Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management
Act of 2020, lays down the
policies of the Philippine
Government in dealing the
natural disasters. They are as
follows (Republic Act 10121,
2020, Section 2).
1. Upholding the people’s
constitutional rights to life
and property by addressing
the root causes of
vulnerabilities to disasters,
strengthening the country s
institutional capacity or
disaster risk reduction and
management and building
the resilience of local
communities ta disasters
2. Adherence to the
universal norms principles
and standards humanitarian
assistance and the global
effort on risk reduction as an
expression of the country s
commitment to overcome
human suffering.
3. Incorporation of internationally
accepted principles of disaster risk
management in the creation and
implementation of national, regional
and local sustainable development and
poverty reduction strategies.

4. The creation of disaster risk

reduction and management approach
that is holistic, comprehensive,
integrated and proactive is lessening
the socioeconomic and environmental
impacts of disaster.
5. Development and
implementation of a
comprehensive National
Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan (NDRRMP)
that aims to strengthen the
capacity of the national
government and the local
government units (LGUs).
Together with partner
stakeholders.
6. Adoption and implementation
of a coherent, efficient and
responsive disaster risk reduction
program incorporated in the
development plan at various levels
of government adhering to the
principles of good governance such
as transparency and accountability
within the context of poverty
alleviation and environmental
protection.
7. Mainstream disaster risk
reduction and climate change in
development processes such as
policy formulation, socio economic
development planning. Budgeting
 8. Institutionalize the policies and
programs with continuing budget
appropriation on disaster risk reduction
from national down to local levels towards
building a disaster- resilient nation and
communities;
9. Ensure that disaster risk reduction
and climate change measures are gender
responsive. Sensitive to indigenous
knowledge systems, and respectful of
human rights.
10. Recognition of the local risk patterns
s across the country and strengthen the
capacity of LGUs for disaster risk
reduction at the regional and local levels.
PNP Operational
Procedures on
Critical Incident
Management
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is
at the forefront of crisis situations, it
plays an essential and d active role in
crisis management in the country
(Castillo, Jr., and Gabao, role by
organizing its own Incident Support of
the NPOC and NDRRMC.2021, p. su),
PNB Management accomplished this
Committee (IMC) in support of NPOC
and NDDRMC
 The Secretary of the Interior and
Local Government (SILG) is designated as the
Cabinet- Officer Primarily Responsible (C-OPR)
for threats to peace and order such as civil
disturbance, violent labor strikes, riots,
anarchy, disorderly mass demonstrations The
SILG acts also as Vice Chairman on Disaster
Preparedness, NDRRMC All actions of the PNP
in addressing the crisis are in support of the
OC- CMCs and DRRMCs with common
objectives of saving lives and properties,
resolution of the critical incidents at the
earliest possible time and restoration of
normalcy in the affected areas (PNP, 2013,
143). According to the Revised Philippine
National Police Operational Procedure (2013),
there are two types of incidents to be handled.
They as follows:
1.Man-Made Incidents – These are incidents
induced by man, to which the PNP is tasked to
respond in two different situations (PNP, 2013,
p. 142):

a. Managing an incident that can be

resolved by the responding policemen without
Crisis Management Committee (CMC)
involvements: Example: Hostage taking of a
father to his son.

b. Managing an incident that entails CMC-

directed operations which in turn required the
implementation of special task force by one or
more the urgent services of the Philippine
government.

Both actions of the PNP in either situation

follow the Incident Command System (ICS)
2.Natural/Disaster Incidents
In the event of natural disaster
incidents, the PNP shall act as
the first responder in the affected
area in order to provide area
security and support to o the
conduct of search and rescue
operations to be spearheaded by
the Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Committees
(DRRMC). (PNP, 2013, p. 142).
PNPs Alert Level During Man
Made Critical Incidents
The Revised Philippine National Police Operational
Procedure (2013) posits Four Alert Levels during
Human-Induced (Man-Made Critical Incident. The
Appropriate man-made critical incident alert le shall
be disseminated to all concerned offices through the
PNP Nation Operations Center (NOC) (PNP, 2013. p.
L46). They are as follows:
Level 1 (Low)
There is no information to suggest a specific
man-made Critical Incident nay occur.
Level 2 (Moderate)
Man-made Critical Incident is possible, but not
Level 3 (High)
There is a strong possibility that manmade
Critical Incidents may occur within a short
period of time.
Level 4 (Extreme)
A man-made Critical Incident has just occurred or has
just been preempted; or incidents are expected.

PNP’s Stages in Disaster Management

The Revised Philippine National Police Operational
Procedures (2013), introduced Three levels/ Stages in
Natural Disaster Management. They are as follows
(PNP, 2013. p. 146):
Level 1-Green/ Pre- Disaster Stage

It is when there are no disasters or calamities the

disaster management team should conduct Pro-
active Assessment activities such as (PNP, 2013. p.
147- 148):
a. Conduct of Risk Mapping and identification of
disaster-prone areas;
b. identification of and evacuation c enters; staging
areas, evacuation routes
C. Conduct of disaster drills (earthquake, fire, etc)
simulation exercises and trainings.
D. Holding of regular Task Groups and Sub- Task
Groups meeting together with respective levels Of
e. Activation of PN PSCDM National Disaster
Operations Center (NDOC) to be co-located at the
NHQ PNP National Operations Center:
f. Activation of Command Post by Task Groups whose
area is hit by the disaster;
g. Forced relocation/pre-emptive residents in flood-
prone areas in coordination with corresponding
LDRRC; and
h. Conduct of timely and rapid disaster response
according to the needs in the disaster/calamity area
such as search &rescue operation, evacuation &
relief operation, emergency medical services, and
security & traffic management operation in support
and coordination with NDRRMC activities includes
Level 3- White/ Post-Disaster
Stage
It is when the Natural disaster is officially over, and Support to
Recovery and Rehabilitation Efforts are being done, these activities
includes (PNP, 2013. p. 148):
a. Get reports from concerned Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council the Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis of
the affected areas
b. Deployment of relief personnel for relief operations;
c. Provide security and traffic assistance to returning evacuees:
d. Submit After Disaster Response Report to C, PNP copy furnished
DRRMC; and
E. De-activation of the PNP SCDM through the Chairman/Task
Coordinator, PNP SCDM when the situation is already manageable in
a disaster-sticken area.