Operational Capabilities in Disaster Emergency Management of Bureau of Fire Protection Personnel in Camarines Norte, Philippines

This study focused on assessing the operational capabilities of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel in Disaster Emergency Management in the Province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. Specifically, it examined: (1) the profile of respondents in terms of age, sex, civil status, educational attainment, length of service, and relevant trainings attended; (2) the level of operational capabilities of BFP personnel in disaster emergency management with respect to resource planning, organizational management, responsiveness, and information dissemination; and (3) the formulation of a proposed intervention program to enhance the operational capabilities of BFP personnel in the province. The study utilized a descriptive survey research design and employed a pre-tested questionnaire to collect primary data. A total of 82 BFP personnel participated in the study, drawn from 12 municipal fire stations and the BFP Provincial Office in Camarines Norte, including Basud, Daet, Mercedes, San Lorenzo, San Vicente, Talisay, Vinzons, Labo, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, and Sta. Elena Fire Stations, as well as the Office of the Provincial Fire Marshal. Findings revealed that most respondents were aged 35–44 years (46%), male (72%), and married (72%). The majority were college graduates (81%), had rendered 6–10 years of service (52%), and had attended one to three disaster-related trainings (42%). In terms of operational capabilities, BFP personnel were rated “very much capable” in organizational management (M = 4.31), information dissemination (M = 4.40), and responsiveness (M = 4.29). However, resource planning obtained a slightly lower rating of “capable” (M = 4.18), indicating room for improvement. Based on these results, an intervention plan was developed to address identified gaps, particularly in workforce and equipment allocation, equipment maintenance, training frequency, public awareness activities, and governance-related constraints. The study recommends that BFP management address training and resource deficiencies, invest in resource planning systems and inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and institutionalize the proposed intervention plan through clear roles, performance indicators, and regular monitoring. Future studies may conduct comparative or longitudinal research across regions and apply qualitative methods for deeper analysis.