The Philippine Coast Guard Crisis Planning towards the Development of a Continuity Management Framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22276587Keywords:
public service continuity, Philippine Coast Guard, continuity management, crisis planning, explanatory sequential mixed-methods researchAbstract
Public institutions must sustain essential services even when the disruption also impairs their own personnel, facilities, communications, logistics, records, and command arrangements. This study assessed Public Service Continuity (PSC) in Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) crisis planning and developed an evidence-informed proposed continuity plan. Anchored in Continuity Management Theory, complemented by Continuity of Operations and ISO 22300/22301, the study operationalized PSC through Risk Assessment, Resources, Responsibilities, Recovery, and Restoration of Normalcy (5Rs). An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used. A 33-item survey of 306 PCG personnel from National Headquarters and three Coast Guard Districts established the PSC profile. Fifteen Key Informant Interviews explained the quantitative pattern through Narrative Analysis, while 15 LOIs, OPLANs, IMPLANs, and related planning documents were assessed using a 5R documentary matrix. Findings were integrated through a joint display and Strength–Gap Matrix. Overall PSC was Slightly Manifested (M = 2.44, SD = 0.62). Responsibilities (M = 2.53) and Risk Assessment (M = 2.52) were Manifested, reflecting stronger succession, delegation, role assignment, hazard identification, and hazard-to-essential-function linkage. Resources (M = 2.33), Recovery (M = 2.39), and Restoration of Normalcy (M = 2.42) were Slightly Manifested. Interviews and documents showed that the PCG mobilizes personnel and sustains immediate response through command experience, coordination, and local adaptation; however, continuity remained insufficiently institutionalized in essential-function prioritization, minimum service levels, dependency mapping, alternate resources, recovery targets, knowledge transfer, corrective-action closure, and retesting. The study proposes a PSC Architecture and the Assess–Assure–Assign–Recover–Restore (A3R2) Continuity Management Framework, operationalized through illustrative OPLAN “KATATAGAN.” These outputs complement existing crisis plans by adding a managed continuity layer. The study offers PCG leadership a basis for strengthening sustained maritime public service under disruption.
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