CONTENTS

Acronyms i
About the DRRM-H Advocacy Kit
What is the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Heath (DRRM-H) Advocacy Kit? . . . . . . . . . . ii
For Whom is the Advocacy Kit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Why the DRRM-H Advocacy Kit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

Understanding Concepts of DRRM-H

The Philippine Situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Health Hazards and Vulnerabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Emergencies and Disasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

What is Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health?

Definition of DRRM-H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
National Policy on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
✓ Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
✓ Guiding Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
✓ Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

DRRM-H institutionalization in the Local Government Units

How to institutionalize DRRM-H in Province-wide and City-wide Health System (P/CWHS)? . . . . . . . . 10
How operationalization of EHSP in Emergencies and Disasters can be achieved? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What are the minimum requirements of a functional DRRM-H system in the (P/CWHS)? . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
How to institutionalize a functional DRRM-H System for UHC managerial, technical and financial
integration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
What can the LGU do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
What can the DOH provide to support the LGUs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Essential Health Services Package (EHSP) in Emergencies and Disasters

Guidelines in the Provision of the EHSP in Emergencies and Disasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Medical and Public Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
✓ Maternal, Newborn and Child Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
✓ Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
✓ Control of Non-Communicable Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
✓ Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health (MISP for SRH)
in Emergencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
✓ Management of Injuries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
✓ Hospital Safe from Disasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Nutrition Nutrition in Emergencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Mobilization of Health Emergency Response Teams

Minimum Requirements and General Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Types of HERTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Protection of the HERTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
ACRONYMS

AO Administrative Order
DOH Department of Health
DRRM Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
DRRM-H Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health
EHSP Essential Health Services Package
EOC Emergency Operations Center
HEMB Health Emergency Management Bureau
HERT Health Emergency Response Team
HCPN Health Care Provider Network
HSFD Hospitals Safe from Disasters
LGU Local Government Unit
MHPSS Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
MISP-SRH Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and
Reproductive Health
NDRRMC National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
NiE Nutrition in Emergencies
OpCen Operations Center
P/CWHS Province and City-wide Health System
RH Reproductive Health
UHC Universal Health Care
UHC IS Universal Health Care Implementation Site
WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
WiE Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Emergencies
ABOUT THE DRRM-H ADVOCACY KIT
What is the DRRM-H Advocacy Kit?
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) Advocacy Kit has a historical semblance
that connects the more than a decade running program from health emergency management until Republic
Act 10121 was issued which established the paradigm shift from disaster management to disaster risk
reduction and management.

Strategically positioning health at the forefront, the Health Emergency Management Bureau aligned its
program to RA 10121, thus the birth of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H). This
new program nomenclature needs to be understood, accepted, and supported including any other innovative
approaches that may come along its country-wide institutionalization and implementation. Thus, advocacy is
necessary which can utilize various platforms including the use of advocacy kit.

This DRRM-H Advocacy Kit provides a set of information specially packaged from the description of the
program, its components, the policies that support its implementation, as well as the roles of various
stakeholders. In addition, to support the monitoring of the program, indicators are enumerated so that any
program support can be anchored in any of these or favorably on all of these.

Finally, the DRRM-H Advocacy Kit is expressed in a layperson’s version to make it useful and valuable to
anyone who want to expand their understanding of the program and its importance based on its features and
how it works at various levels of implementation.

For Whom is the Advocacy Kit?

The DRRM-H Advocacy Kit is applicable to all levels of the organization from the national to the local
government units. It serves as a resource for building a structured approach for sustained advocacy
particularly among Program Supporters and Managers.

The heart of the DRRM-H Advocacy Kit is all about the program. The primary policies supporting the program
are in the preliminary pages so that the kit can at once establish its staunch to stakeholders.

Empowerment and putting people first are the key principles in the development of this advocacy kit because
through this, program managers are given a handy and a ready-reference which will enable them to discuss
the program where everyone can benefit from – as program advocates, as program implementers, as program
organizers, as program assists since DRRM-H must be everybody’s affair and concern.

Why the DRRM-H Advocacy Kit?

The basic purpose of the DRRM-H Advocacy Kit is to promote or reinforce a change in the level of program
support and implementation. Rather than providing direct assistance to beneficiaries, clients or beneficiaries
of the program, the advocacy aims at winning support from others, i.e. creating a supportive environment
based on the principle that in emergencies and disasters, aside from self-help, the external support is deemed
essential.

As DRRM-H Advocates, those who can be influenced through this kit can further contribute their expertise
and influence as they work with communities or populations internally and externally to improve health
disaster preparedness and resilience.

Finally, the kit is aimed at working along three types of advocacy - self-advocacy, individual advocacy, and
organizational/institutional/systems advocacy.
 UNDERSTANDING
CONCEPTS OF DRRM-H

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4
 WHAT IS DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION AND
MANAGEMENT IN HEALTH?

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 DRRM-H
INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

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DRRM-H Operational Framework

The DRRM-H Operational Framework embodies the significant input of increasing

investments in DRRM-H across the thematic areas; defines enabling processes
(governance, health service delivery, resource mobilization and management, information
and knowledge management) resulting to specific outputs (DRRM-H Plan, health
emergency response teams, health emergency commodities and emergency operations
center) to achieve health outcomes toward a resilient health system in all levels of
governance.

The HCPN refers to a group of primary to tertiary care providers, whether public, private
or mixed, offering people-centered and comprehensive care in an integrated and
coordinated manner. The HCPN shall ensure that its catchment population has access to
all levels of care: (1) primary care; (2) secondary care; and (3) tertiary care.
Each HCPN shall have primary care provider networks (PCPNs) as its foundation and
responsible for providing the primary level of care. These PCPNs are coordinated groups
of public, private or mixed primary care providers that act as the navigator, initial and
continuing point of contact of clients to the health care delivery system.

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 What are the minimum requirements of a functional DRRM-H system in the
Province-wide or City-wide System?

a. DRRM-H Plan
• Unified - 100% of the plans of participating component cities and municipalities are
incorporated in one province-wide plan
• Comprehensive - Aside from instituting multi-hazard approach, the plan includes
thorough discussion of public health emergencies with strategies
• Coherent - Convergence of efforts among participating LGUs and network
arrangements are evident in the plan

b. Health Emergency Response Teams

• Organized, recognized, and supported by an issuance e.g. local ordinance, executive
order, etc
• Trained on Basic Life Support and Standard First Aid
• Adequate in number and self-sufficient and secured in terms of logistics

c. Essential health emergency commodities

• Available and accessible medicines and medical supplies
• Provision for patient transport
• Support arrangement for field facility set up

d. Functional Health Operations Center

• Supervised by the Provincial/City Health Office (P/CHO)
• Dedicated Operations Center Staff provided by the P/CHO
• Minimum tools/devices and equipment installed
• Dedicated facility for Health Operations Center

Source: Administrative Order No. 2020-0036 Guidelines on the Institutionalization of Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management in Health (DRRM-H) in Province-wide and City-wide Health Systems

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How to institutionalize a functional DRRM-H System for Universal Health Care
(UHC) managerial, technical and financial integration?

A. Managerial Integration
a. Implementation arrangement in P/CWHS
- Institutionalization of DRRM-H System and integration to the Local Health System
- Identifying the role of P/CHO and the P/CHB
- Provision on performance monitoring
- Provision on LGUs that have not committed to P/CWHS
b. Minimum requirements of a functional DRRM-H system in the P/CWHS including
the minimum standards set in the LGU Scorecard and its monitoring tools

B. Technical Integration
a. Governance
- Policy, Planning, Program / Standard / System Development
- Command and Control, Coordination and Communication
- Partnership
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Promotion and Advocacy
b. Service Delivery
- Engagement and resource sharing within the P/CWHS and its Health Care
Provider Network including resource sharing to non-P/CWHS
- Provision of essential health services
- Pre-established procedures for the management of mass casualty incident
- Safety of health facilities through Hospitals Safe from Disasters
c. Resource Management and Mobilization
- Development of manual of operations / process algorithms
- Strengthening logistics management
- Continuity of health services
d. Information and Knowledge Management
- Establishment of Public Health Operations Center (PHOC)
- Utilizing and upgrading an information / knowledge management system for
evidence-based decision-making and actions

C. Financial Integration
- Delivery of population-based health services financed by the government at the
point of service
- Use of Special Health Fund for establishing and sustaining a functional DRRM-H
system
- Investment on DRRM-H through LIPH, other financing and other sources such as but
not limited to donations, grants, and other forms of technical assistance

Source: Administrative Order No. 2020-0036 Guidelines on the Institutionalization of Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management in Health (DRRM-H) in Province-wide and City-wide Health Systems

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13
14
 ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICE
PACKAGES (EHSP) IN
EMERGENCIES AND
DISASTERS

15
Administrative Order No. 2017-0007: Guidelines in the Provision of the
Essential Health Services Package in Emergencies and Disasters

Roles of the LGU

1. Formulate plans, procedures, and
protocols and adopt these with
provisions for funds.
2. Ensure EHSP implementation and
service delivery to include important
processes such as information
management, resource management,
and monitoring and evaluation.
3. Preposition EHSP before external aid
comes in emergencies and disasters.
4. Establish coordination and collaboration
with hospitals, LGUs, and other
stakeholders.
5. Establish and maintain a Health Care
Provider Network with hospitals
for referral of treatment and care of
special cases through mutually agreed
arrangements.
6. Sustain a pre-hospital care system in
emergencies and disasters.
7. Submit reports, provide
feedback, suggestions, and policy
recommendations to the Provincial
Health Office following the standard
reporting flow.

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 HEALTH SUB-CLUSTER ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICE PACKAGES

A. Medical and Public Health

• Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
• Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
• Management of Injuries
• Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Control of Non-Communicable Diseases

A.1 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

What can the LGUs do?

- Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care.
- Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care including ensuring clean and safe
deliveries, infant and young child feeding counseling, measles and OPV immunization
for children aged 6 months to 15 years, vitamin A supplementation for children 6
months to under-five years old, iron-folic acid supplementation for pregnant and
lactating women, under-five children feeding support, and provision of safe havens.
(child-friendly space and woman-friendly space)
- Preposition breastfeeding kits.

A.2 Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases

What can the LGU do?

- Preposition medicines and medical supplies including personal protective equipment.

A.3 Control of Non-Communicable Diseases

What can the LGUs do?

- Prophylaxis for flood-borne diseases such as leptospirosis and acute watery diarrhea.
- Services for older persons (OP), people with disabilities (PWDs), people with special
needs (PWSNs), and people with pre-existing mental illnesses.
- Systems of referral, communication, and safe transport and pre-hospital care of
patients requiring definitive care.
- Early treatment and continuation of essential therapies for acute/chronic conditions/
exacerbations including lifestyle-related diseases, degenerative diseases, bronchial
asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and other endemic diseases.

Source: Administrative Order No. 2017-0007 Guidelines in the Provision of the Essential Health Service Packages in
Emergencies and Disasters

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A.4 Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health
(MISP for SRH) in Emergencies
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
• Medical Services for survivors of Gender Based Violence(GBV)
The Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual • Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for GBV survivors
and Reproductive Health (MISP for SRH) in • Community awareness on available services for GBV survivors

Emergencies is a coordinated set of STI, HIV, AIDS

priority SRH activities to be implemented at • Syndromic treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Anti-retrovirals for those undergoing treatment for human
the onset of a crisis. Formally enacted through immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
DOH Administrative Order No. 2015-0005 or the (AIDS)
• Adherence to universal precautions, such as rational and safer blood
“National Policy on the Minimum Initial Service transfusions
Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health
(MISP for SRH) in Health Emergencies”, it aims SAFE MOTHERHOOD
• Available skilled health personnel to provide Emergency Obstetric and
to: Newborn Care (EmONC) services and postpartum services
• Emergency birthing kits to pregnant women on the third trimester
of pregnancy and to skilled birth attendants
• Prevent and manage the consequences of • Community awareness on available services
sexual and gender-based violence;
• Prevent excess maternal and newborn FAMILY PLANNING
• Contraceptives of choice to existing or current family planning users
morbidity and mortality; • Approproate information on family planning
• Reduce HIV transmission; and ASRH
• Plan for comprehensive Reproductive • Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) information and services
• Youth Friendly Spaces for youth related activities
Health (RH) services beginning in the
early days and weeks of an emergency. NUTRITION SERVICES FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
• Infant and young child feeding in emergencies

What can the LGUs do?

- Create and activate a local RH coordinating body.
- Adopt and implement the MISP for SRH as deemed appropriate and feasible in their
locality and as one of the criteria in the DILG Operation Listo that contains minimum
actions that LGUs must do in all phases of an emergency or disaster.
- Provide a counterpart budget for prepositioning of RH supplies and commodities,
capacity building of local service providers, coordination meetings and other local
MISP for SRH-related activities.
- Ensure that community volunteers are mobilized during emergency situations.
- Refer and link pregnant women including adolescents to health service providers and
thereby ensure access to facility-based delivery and emergency obstetric and
newborn care.
- Ensure collaboration and engagement among communities to disseminate risk
information on SRH, maternal and newborn health and nutrition through the
involvement of community-based organizations and non-government organizations.
- Provide monitoring reports to the local Health cluster who, in tum, reports to the local
DRRMC.
- Provide documentation of MISP for SRH activities to the regional and national
coordinating body.

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 A.5 Management of Injuries

What can the LGUs do?

- Injury and proper wound care.
- Tetanus toxoid vaccine to those with dirty wounds and those involved in rescue or
clean-up operations.
- Health services for saving lives including those that are needed for search and rescue
after disaster strikes such as Basic Life Support, Standard First Aid, and Pre-Hospital
Care.
- Preposition first-aid/survival/family health kits.

A.6 Hospital Safe from Disasters

What can the LGUs do?

- Enforce all existing national and local codes and safety measures.
- Institutionalize and implement the plans, policies, guidelines and protocols on
Hospitals Safe from Disasters (HSFD).
- Enforce standards of HSFD on LGU-managed hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
- Consider HSFD principle in its land use plans.

Source: Administrative Order No. 2013-0014 Policies and Guidelines on Hospitals Safe from Disasters

B. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Key actions for promoting MHPSS
(MHPSS) is a type of local or outside support
that aims to protect and promote psychosocial Cross-cutting issues
well-being and/ or treat mental disorders. 1. Coordination
(IASC Guidelines in Emergency Settings, 2. Assessment, monitoring and
2007). The NDRRMC Memorandum No. 62 evaluation
Series of 2017, or the “National Guidelines 3. Protection and human rights
on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support standards
in Emergencies and Disaster Situations” 4. Human Resources
provides the guidelines on the implementation
Core MHPSS domains
of MHPSS during emergencies which aims to 1. Community Mobilazations and
enable humanitarian actors and communities support
to implement essential minimum high priority 2. Health Services
responses in emergencies and disasters that 3. Education
adapt and contextualize the IASC Guidelines 4. Dissemanation and information
on MHPSS.
Social Consideration
1. Food security and nutrition
2. Shelter and site planning
3. Water and sanition

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The MHPSS Intervention Pyramid
The MHPSS intervention pyramid
presents the integrated and layered
approach that defines an effective
MHPSS program. It provides service
responders with an appreciation
of the different needs of affected
communities, as well as the roles
of each sector in helping provide
sustainable and coordinated
interventions.

Basic services and security. The

wellbeing of all people should
be protected through the (re)
establishment of security, adequate
governance and services that address
physical needs (food, shelter, water, basic health care, control of communicable diseases).
In most emergencies, specialists in sectors such as food, health and shelter provide basic
services.

Community and family support. The second layer represents the emergency response for
a smaller number of people who are able to maintain their mental health and psychosocial
well-being if they receive help in accessing key community and family supports. In most
emergencies, there are significant disruptions of family and community networks due to
loss, displacement, family separation, community fears and distrust. Moreover, even when
family and community networks remain intact, people in emergencies will benefit from help
in accessing greater community and family supports.

Focused, non-specialized supports. The third layer represents the supports necessary for
the still smaller number of people who additionally require more focused individual, family
or group interventions by trained and supervised workers (but who may not have had years
of training in specialized care). For example, survivors of gender-based violence might need
a mixture of emotional and livelihood support from community workers. This layer also
includes psychological first aid (PFA) and basic mental health care by primary health care
workers.

Specialized services. The top layer of the pyramid represents the additional support
required for the small percentage of the population whose suffering, despite the supports
already mentioned, is intolerable and who may have significant difficulties in basic daily
functioning.

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 What can the LGUs do?
1. Provide support to staff who experienced extreme events upon manifestation of
significant behavioral changes.
2. Referral of more severe, complex or high-risk cases to specialists and facilities.
3. Utilize existing communal, cultural, spiritual and religious healing practices as
approaches to MHPSS, as appropriate.
4. Conduct community health education through fliers, fora and other IEC materials.
5. Coordinate assessment of mental health and psychosocial issues using global
assessment tools and guidelines.
6. MHPSS interventions for survivors of sexual violence if requested by the survivor and
supported with significant signs and symptoms based on the assessment tool.
7. Protect and promote responder’s well-being during preparation, deployment and
follow-up phases.
8. Provide psychotropic medications and sedatives when necessary.
9. Provide psychological first aid for the general population.
10. Provide access and referral to a graded and specific MHPSS interventions especially
for the vulnerable groups.

Source: Administrative Order No. 2017-0007: Guidelines in the Provision of the Essential Health Service Packages
in Emergencies and Disasters

C. Nutrition in Emergencies
Component services:
1. Infant and Young Child Feeding 6. Nutrition Counselling
2. Dietary Supplementation 7. Nutrition Promotion and Advocacy
3. Management of Acute Malnutrition 8. Cluster Coordination
4. Micronutrient Supplementation 9. Information Management
5. Nutritional Assessment

What can the LGUs do?

1. Ensure that the following components of a functioning nutrition cluster are in place:
a. Designated Local Nutrition Action Officer
b. DRRMH-Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) plan linked to the DRRM-H and Local
Nutrition Action Plan of the LGU
c. Designated and trained Information Management Officer
d. Logistics (commodities, assessment tools, IEC materials, infrastructure, etc.) for NiE
services and interventions.

2. Convene regular meetings (quarterly) with the local nutrition cluster to assess
preparedness for emergencies, budget allocation, implementation and monitoring, and
spearhead planning of programs for nutrition in emergencies.

3. Facilitate opportunities for improving the capacity of the LGU to respond to

emergencies and disasters.

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4. Leads in the planning and implementation of nutrition-specific and nutrition-
sensitive programs indicated in the LGU’s NiE plan, including but not limited to the
Minimum Service Package and appropriate nutrition sensitive and specific services.

5. Ensure integration of NiE services and activities in the DRMMH plan, the local
nutrition plan and development plan with budgetary allocation during the regular
LGU budget planning and during disaster operations.

6. Ensure routine surveillance on the population’s health and nutrition status, as well as
identifying groups with special needs especially during disasters.

7. Ensure the provision of and assist in developing cycle menus for blanket feeding to
the planning and implementation of general feeding programs during disasters and
the identification of affected households, especially among the most severely affected
and marginalized.

8. Ensures availability of complementary food for 6-23 months old children while
continuing breastfeeding.

9. Ensures availability and acceptable quality of goods and supplies for delivery of
Minimum Service Package .

10. Facilitates the provision of therapeutic management and support to children

assessed to have SAM and MAM, and refers to tertiary facilities for in-patient
treatment, if necessary.

11. Ensures that there are no milk donations and other products covered by Milk Code
in the evacuation centers and temporary shelters.

12. Engages in capacity building for food production in times of emergencies.

13. Coordinates with other partner agencies and stakeholders to help provide livelihood
programs during the recovery and rehabilitation phase of a disaster.

14. Oversees the rapid and subsequent nutrition needs assessment of affected
communities, including the means for further enhancing nutritional quality of food
among the population, with the help of Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay
Health Workers and other trained support groups.

15. Facilitate prompt and complete reporting of data gathered from baseline and rapid
assessment, as well as monitoring and evaluation results of NiE interventions.

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 C. WASH in Emergencies
Component services:
1. Water Supply
2. Sanitation
a. Excreta Disposal
b. Solid Waste Management
c. Vector Control
3. Hygiene Promotion

What can the LGUs do?

1. Include Wash in Emergencies (WiE) in the development a local DRRM-H plan that is
responsive to the needs of the LGU and its constituents, compliant with the LGU
scorecard, and is integrated with Local Investment Plan for Health/Annual Operational
Plan and other relevant plans, strategies, and DRRM resources, which includes the
LDRRMO plan and budget, and the proposed programming of the Local Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Fund.

2. Ensure local health boards (LHBs) encourage the Sanggunian to translate local
appropriations into a resolution for public health purposes which shall include
WiE-related services and interventions.

3. Ensure that there is a designated WASH Cluster Coordinator and a pool of qualified
WASH practitioners across the different levels of local governance.

4. Ensure availability of fund to shoulder costs relating to operations and maintenance of

WASH facilities in the evacuation centers.

5. Ensure the provision and delivery of WASH goods and services in the evacuation
centers.

6. Coordinate with Department of Education for the provision of WASH in emergency

facilities, especially if such are meant for internally displaced families, to ensure that
educational services would not be severely disrupted.

7. Assess the condition of WASH facilities in evacuation centers and temporary shelters as
appropriate, before, during and after emergencies and disasters.

Source: Administrative Order No. 2020-0032: National Policy on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in
Emergencies and Disasters

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 Key actions for protecting and promoting
MHPSS

Cross-Cutting Issues
1. Coordination
2. Assessment, monitoring and evaluation
3. Protection and human rights standards
4. Human Resources

Core MHPSS Domains

1. Community Mobilization and support
2. Health Services
3. Education
4. Dissemination and information

Social Considerations
1. Food security and nutrition
2. Shelter and site planning

MOBILIZATION OF HEALTH
3. Water and sanitation

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS

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 Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) refers to all types of teams that are
mobilized during events emergencies and disasters, to provide health and health-related
services by any health sector agency/organization, whether local or international

Minimum requirements among members of the General Guidelines

HERTs
All the members of the HERTs shall comply with 1. All HERTs shall ensure provision of
the following minimum requirements: quality health care during mobilization.
1. Have the license to practice profession, if 2. All HERTs shall ensure timely and
coordinated response.
applicable
3. All LGUs shall ensure security of the
2. With training on Basic Life Support and Standard
HERTs.
First Aid 4. All LGUs shall ensure that members of
3. Willing to be deployed in austere/severe the HERTs are self-sufficient.
environments anytime and anywhere 5. The mobilization of the HERTs shall be
4. Physically and mentally fit documented in all phases.
5. Personnel with permanent plantilla position is
a priority
Additional training shall be required depending on the needed competency of the
members of the HERTs based on his/her roles and functions.

Types of HERTs
1. EMT Type 1 – Mobile (Outpatient Emergency Care)
2. EMT Type 1 – Fixed (Outpatient Emergency Care with tented structure)
3. EMT Type 2 – Inpatient Surgical Emergency Care
4. EMT Type 3 – Inpatient Referral Care
5. Additional Specialized Care EMT
6. Ambulance Team
7. Rapid Health Assessment Team
8. Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disasters Team
9. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Team
10. Nutrition Team
11. Mental Health and Psychosocial Services Team
12. Public Health Team (or Composite Team)
13. Operations Center Team
14. Support Team
15. Other Expert Teams

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Protection of the HERTs
1. All mobilized members of the HERTs shall be on temporary added duty status.

2. All mobilized members shall be entitled to all remunerations/benefits on top of the

regular benefit package provided during normal working conditions.

3. The remunerations/benefits shall include but not limited to per diem, lodging, meals,
communication allowance, incidental expenses, overtime pay, compensatory leave,
recognition and reward, mobilization insurance (travel, accident and death), death and
burial allowance, vaccination (as required/necessary), mobilization/operational fund,
and other allowable benefits due them from the LGU.

4. In case of illness, injuries, disability, and hospitalization due to mobilization, the

personnel shall be entitled to financial assistance for hospitalization, recovery and
rehabilitation care (including orthopedic appliances) and other entitlements whereby
necessary. Likewise, they shall be entitled to emergency extraction (as needed).

5. No deduction of leave credits during the time of hospitalization, recovery and

rehabilitation care of the affected members of the HERTs.

What can the LGUs do?

1. Formulate their DRRM-H plans to adopt and implement the policy on mobilization of
HERTs.

2. Establish a mechanism on mobilization of teams that is appropriate for their respective

area of jurisdiction.

3. Develop, implement and monitor a mechanism of coordination and collaboration

with DOH Regional Office, DOH Hospitals, DRRMCs, health sector partners, and other
stakeholder, to ensure efficient and effective mobilization of HERTs.

4. Provide logistical support requirements of the HERTs.

5. Prepare and submit all the necessary reports based on the prescribed templates and
timelines.

Source: AO 2018-0018: National Policy on the Mobilization of Health Emergency Response Teams

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