The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and partner government agencies on Thursday officially introduced a unified contingency plan to direct the country’s emergency operations in the event of a catastrophic earthquake affecting Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
Officials launched the 2026 Harmonized National Contingency Plan (HNCP) for High-Intensity Earthquake in the Greater Metro Manila Area during a ceremony at the OCD Central Office in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The document serves as a coordinated national blueprint to manage the aftermath of a massive earthquake striking the capital region and nearby areas.
OCD Administrator Harold Cabreras stated during a press briefing that the operational framework simulates a severe scenario where the Greater Metro Manila Area experiences catastrophic damage, necessitating the mobilization of emergency personnel from external regions.
The targeted zone includes the National Capital Region alongside the adjacent provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Bulacan, and Pampanga.
“To give a general overview on the HNCP, we will assume na devastated ang greater Metro Manila, so initially, cut off ang lahat ng government,” Cabreras said.
Under the unified framework, various regions have pre-assigned roles to deploy support, and specific evacuation and staging locations have been established.
“Sa HNCP, naka-task na ang ang different regions to assist us. So we already identified the areas kung saan pupunta ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Key departments have been assigned specialized clusters within the response mechanism. This includes logistical and operational tasks for the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The official launch of the 2026 HNCP was held in conjunction with the Second Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill for 2026. Schools, local government units, and various public institutions integrated the new emergency protocols and guidelines into the nationwide drill.
According to previous projections from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), a magnitude 7.2 or stronger earthquake along the West Valley Fault—commonly referred to as “The Big One”—could result in over 50,000 fatalities and severely damage an estimated 12 percent of residential buildings.
Experts emphasize that while seismic events remain unpredictable, geological data suggests the fault is due for a major rupture within the current or next generation.