Management of the Dead

and Missing Persons as a Component

to PDRRMS, NDRP,
ICS and its Facilities
 Objectives

1 2 3
Understand the Management Explain the concept of Identify the MDM Facilities
of the Dead and Missing interoperability between the under the ICS Mechanisms;
(MDM) Persons Cluster as a Search, Rescue, Retrieval
component of Philippine (SRR) Cluster and MDM
Disaster Risk Reduction and Cluster; and
Management System
(PDRRMS), National Disaster
Response Plan (NDRP) under
Incident Command System
(ICS);
 MDM and PDRRMS
Institutionalizing DRRM

RA 10121 transformed
the PDRRMS from
Disaster Relief and
Response towards
National Disaster
Disaster Risk National Disaster Risk Reduction
Reduction and Coordinating Management
Management Council Council
 NDRRMC ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Chairperson
Secretary of National Defense

Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson

Sec. DOST Sec. DILG Sec. DSWD Sec. NEDA
Disaster Prev. & Mitigation Disaster Preparedness Disaster Response Disaster Rehab & Recovery

14 Line 11 Other Gov’t 2 Gov’t 1 Quasi-Gov’t 4 Leagues & 1

Departments Agencies Financial Inst. Agency Union of LGUs

4 Civil Society 1 Private Org. OCD, Administrator

Orgs. Exec. Dir. NDRRMC

Prevention & Rehabilitation &

Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery
 DRRM Council Networks
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

• 17 Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Councils

• 81 Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Councils

• 146 City Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Councils

• 1,488 Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Councils

• 42,046 Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Committees
 MDM and NDRP
National Disaster Response Plan
 National Disaster Response Plan
Response Cluster
Vice-Chairperson
for Response
(DSWD)
Operational
Coordinator
(OCD)

Education Health Phil. Int’l Logistics Mgmt of Protection Shelter

(DepEd) Humanitarian the Dead
(DOH) (OCD) (DSWD) (DHSUD)
Assistance and
(DFA) Missing
(DILG)

Food and Search, Law and Camp

Order Emergency
Non-Food Rescue and Telecommuni
Coordination
(PNP) and Camp
Items Retrieval cations
(DSWD) Management
(AFP) (DICT)
(DSWD)
 NDRRMC

Vice Chairman for

Response (DSWD)
DND- AFP Operational OCD
Coordinator
SRR
Search, Rescue and DILG
Retrieval Disaster Disposition of MDM Management of Management of the
Victim the Dead Missing Person Bereaved Families
Identification
Lead: DNP-AFP
Lead: NBI-PNP-FG Lead: DILG-Through LGUs Lead: PNP Lead: LSWDO
Support Support Support Support Support
PNP AFP LSDWO DSWD
AFP
BFP BFP DOH DSWD DepEd
DILG/LGU DOH BFP PRC AFP
DOH PCG PRC DOH PRC
DPWH OCD DPWH PCG DOH
PCG DILG PCG OCD Devt.
OCD PRC Devt. Partners Devt. Partners
PRC Devt. Partners Partners
Devt. Partners
 Definition of ICS
An IMT is composed of the Incident Commander and appropriate Command and
General Staff personnel assigned to an incident.

Incident
Commander Public Information
Officer

Liaison Officer Command

Staff
Safety Officer

Operations Section Planning Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin

Chief Chief Chief Section Chief General Staff
 Incident
Commander Public Information
Officer

Liaison Officer

Safety Officer

Operations Section Planning Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin

Chief Chief Chief Section Chief

Search and Rescue Health Group Law and Order Food and Non-Food Item
Group Group Group

Camp Coordination and Camp Management of the Dead

Management Group and Missing Group

At the ground level, the Response Cluster resources act as responders under the IMT.
 Responsible Officials (President,
Secretaries, LCEs, or Head of
(Strategic) Offices/Decision Makers)
Policy

Response Cluster

Emergency Operations Center

MDM Lead SRR
DRRM Emergency Convenor Cluster
Operations Manager
(Operational)
Coordination

Operations Disaster Victim Final Management Management

Coordinator Identification Disposition of Missing of Bereaved
of the Dead Persons Families

MDM Cluster
Coordinator
Incident Management Team

Incident
Commander
Command and Control

Operations Planning Logistics Finance and Admin

Section Chief Section Chief Section Chief Section Chief
(Tactical)

SRR Group MDM Group

Supervisor Supervisor

Search and
Retrieval ST 1 Disaster Victim Final Management Management
Identification Disposition of of Missing of Bereaved
Search and TF the Dead TF Persons TF Families TF
Retrieval ST 2
MDM Facilities
 Factors to Consider when Establishing ICS Facilities

Length of time the Cost to establish Environmental

Needs of the incident
facility will be used the facility considerations
MDM Facility Component
 Temporary Collection Area

● Temporary locations, where recovered

or retrieved bodies/human remains are
collected from impact site CA-1
● May have several as necessary
● Near to SRR work sites
● Pre identified by the SRR/MDM SRR
 Temporary Collection Area

What it should have:

● Elevated or cemented
● Trolleys or stretchers for transporting bodies within the mortuary
● Tarpaulin or plastic sheeting for the floor, if it is not made of concrete
● Ventilated and wall covered with laminated sacs (if makeshift)
● Secured from stray animals/dogs, unauthorized individuals, and looters
● Heavy duty black plastic sheeting for temporary screens
● Cleaning materials: mops, buckets, cloths, soap, towels
● Disinfectant and deodorizer
● Protective clothing and heavy-duty rubber gloves
● Translucent plastic bags 0.1mm thick and labels (if epidemic circumstances)
 Collection Area

● Collection area is an open space that will be used for

receiving human remains following their retrieval from
the disaster site after an initial identification and
documentation was made based on most available
general features or other distinguishing features.

● The Collection Area is a facility to receive dead bodies

that are being transferred without undergoing
examination because family members have been able to
identify them, making it possible to release them
according to certain legal provisions. Collection Area is
also used to facilitate identification of dead bodies.
 Collection Area

General Guidelines:
● Recommended capacity should be 10 bodies per 10,000 population.
● Preferred storage option is refrigerated containers with temperatures between 2°C to 4°C (35.6°F
and 39.2°F).
● Each body or body part should be kept in a body bag or similar storage item before storage with
waterproof labels or part in sealed places. DO NOT WRITE DIRECTLY ON BODIES or BODY
BAGS / SHEETS.
● Staff should wear proper PPEs.
● It should have a reception area and a room to store personal belongings and records.
● Refrigerated containers between 2°C and 4°C is the best method for prolonged storage and
preservation of bodies, if none:
○ Protected room or environment that is as cold as possible
○ Refrigerated transport containers with individual racks used by commercial shipping companies
○ Use of ice should be avoided.
○ Depending on the type and magnitude of the disaster, the need for refrigerated containers
should be expected. It is better to have mobile or portable refrigeration units like refrigerated
trucks.
 Collection Area

What it should have:

● Stainless steel postmortem tables or at least heavy duty trestle tables covered
with plastic sheeting
● Trolleys or stretchers for transporting bodies within the mortuary
● Tarpaulin or plastic sheeting for the floor, if it is not made of concrete
● Heavy duty black plastic sheeting for temporary screens
● Cleaning materials: mops, buckets, cloths, soap, towels
● Disinfectant and deodorizer
● Protective clothing and heavy-duty rubber gloves
● Translucent plastic bags 0.1mm thick and labels (if epidemic circumstances)
● Proper drainage system
 Viewing Area

Viewing Area is a designated facility where

family members and others will view
photographs except those photographs of
body/body parts that are in the advanced
stage of decomposition or any objects
pertaining to the deceased and the body
itself.
 Viewing Area

General Guidelines:
● Identification of the body should be given a high priority due to severe changes of the
body after the retrieval.
● It is important to designate a private viewing area for the claimants.
● Process or steps in identification should be:
○ Photographs of jewelry, clothing, or identifiable objects or features found in the
examination of the human remains will be shown.
○ Photographs of the bodies and especially of the face if there are features that can
help with identification will be shown.
○ The remains themselves are shown directly for visual recognition and to obtain the
identification with ethical considerations and great care.
● Claimants should be psychologically prepared.
● What it should have:
● Private room or area
 Data Collection Area

Data Collection Area provides storage of

collected objects, pieces of evidence or
property/ies, found at the disaster site. Ideally,
the Data Collection Center is established in the
vicinity of the disaster area. A dedicated staff
should prepare a master list of all found and
registered objects and decide which objects are
suitable for identification purposes.
 Data Collection Area

General Guidelines:
● Evidence or property should be properly packed and stored.
● All collected objects should be processed and examined to determine
their relevance to identification and classification.
● Photographs of collected objects are required for purposes of
identification and matching.
● Ensure the preparation of records of collected objects.
● Collected objects should be separate accordingly.
● Ensure the arrangement for return of property to owners or entitled
recipients.

What it should have:

● Area to collect the information
● Private room or area
 Missing Person Center

Missing Person Center provides care

and restitution and to process the collection
and management of information on the
missing including those presumed dead.
The goal of the Missing Person Center is to
ensure that the required information will be
collected in a timely and an efficient manner
to aid in the possible identification of
retrieved unidentified bodies and status of
missing persons.
 Missing Person Center

● The local PNP is the lead agency in the

overall management of the missing
persons augmented by the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
and supported by the:
○ Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG);
○ National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);
○ Philippine National Police Crime
Laboratory (PNP-CL); Leagues and
○ Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
 Missing Person Center
General Guidelines:
• The Missing Person Center is led by the Local PNP and being augmented by the Local Social
Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) and supported by various agencies.
• In line with the existing laws, the LSWDO shall establish the Social Welfare Inquiry Desk for
data generation and information management of missing persons and their surviving families.
• The LSWDO shall ensure to have a list of those missing including information about them that
will be used in identification of the dead bodies.
• Information collection shall be conducted by trained personnel.
• A consent should also be asked and any information will be classified as highly confidential
and shall only be used for identification purposes.
• A data management system shall be established to make it easier for the comparison of the
information on unidentified remains.

What it should have:

• Area to collect the information
• Private room or area
 Temporary Morgue Area

• Temporary Morgue Area is a facility to

place bodies while family members are in
the process of completing the required
documents and / or processes before they
can take possession of the body because
the remains have not been identified; or
the body must be embalmed before being
transported out of the country. This also
serves as a temporary storage area of
bodies and body parts.
 Bereaved Families Holding Area

Bereaved Families Holding Area

provided psychosocial support for
the bereaved families which
should be in a safe, accessible
and comfortable place in the site.
 Bereaved Families Holding Area
General Guidelines:
● The LSWDO with augmentation and assistance from the supporting agencies
shall be assigned in the overall management of the bereaved families.
● The LSWDO shall determine the assistance including physiological needs of the
bereaved families, including:
○ Psychological Needs
○ Food Assistance
○ Financial Assistance
○ Livelihood Assistance
○ Clothing Assistance
○ Shelter Assistance
○ Management of the Orphans
○ Food/Cash for Work
● Appropriate intervention must be identified by trained personnel.

What it should have:

● Area to collect the information
● Private room or area
 Bereaved Families Holding Area

The Provincial/City/Municipal Social Welfare Office

(P/C/MSWDO):
a. assigned in the over-all management of the bereaved
families,
b. responsible for the establishment of the Social Welfare
Inquiry Desks for data generation/information
management of missing persons and their surviving
families, and
c. parallel to the processes (information gathering), there
shall be an ongoing psychosocial support for the
bereaved families in the holding area established in a
safe, accessible and comfortable place in the site.
 Data Reconciliation Area

• The Data Reconciliation Center should also be

established in the vicinity of the disaster site.
• Evidence/property found at the disaster site is
collected at the Data Reconciliation Center
along with personal effects of disaster victims.
 Temporary Burial/Grave Site

Temporary Burial/Grave Site provides

storage of the body. Following
allocation of the unique body code,
taking photographs and completion of
the Dead Body Information Form, dead
body, identified or unidentified, long-
term temporary storage is needed and
where it does not conflict with cultural
norms.
 Temporary Burial/Grave Site

General Guidelines:
• If there are small numbers of bodies: place in individual graves
• For Larger numbers:
a) place in trench graves, side by side, with at least 0.4 meters
between bodies,
b) each body, and each bag, needs to be individually labeled,
c) record the location of the body, with its unique code, at the
surface of the grave site, and on a plan of the whole burial site.
d) the measurements should be:
• Length 2 meters
• Width 2.5 Feet
• Depth 4 feet
 Temporary Burial/Grave Site

• Each dead body or individual body part needs to be bagged separately and
have its own unique code on waterproof labels attached to the body or body
part as well as attached to the bag.
• Burial should be 1.5 m deep and at least 200 m from drinking water sources.
• Leave 0.4 m between bodies for trench burials.
• Lie bodies side-by-side in one layer only (not on top of each other).
• Clearly mark each body and mark their positions at ground level including the
unique body code.
• Consider the option of burying bodies head-to-toe if required.
• Create a sketch map of the burial site recording the location of bodies using
the unique code
 Principle of Temporary Burial

• Underground temperature is much

lower than the atmospheric
temperature, thus providing natural
cooling, aiding in temporary
preservation of dead bodies before
final disposal;
• Depending upon the local conditions,
modality of temporary burial for a short
duration may only be adopted when
there is complete absence of facilities
for storage and proper preservation.
However, temporary burial will not be
used as a method of choice.
 Guidelines that will be followed for temporary burial:

1. The site of temporary burial shall be carefully selected,

secured for possible future exhumation and will be at
least 250 meters away from the drinking water source.
2. Bodies will be placed in parallel trenches and shall not be
laid one on top of the other.
3. Depth of burial will be at least 1.5 meters above the
groundwater table, with at least 1 meter covering of soil
and the distance between two bodies will be 0.5 meter.
4. Each body must be buried in body bags or locally
available material with its Individual Identification Number
in a waterproof label. This number must be marked at the
ground level and mapped for future reference in a
register.
5. Mass burial in a single ditch will not be used for storage
and preservation.
Guidelines that will be followed for temporary burial:

• In mass fatality events that overextend local capacities, the authorities

might not be able to quickly process remains in terms of data collection.
• In these cases, organized and respectful short-term storage to protect the
remains as efficiently as possible needs to be established.
• Temporary burials can be considered.
 Minimum Equipment

Coveralls with Caps, soap,

Leather Rubber
Stretchers Hood, Mask, and Boots disinfectants
Gloves Gloves
Eye Protector and cloth
 Facilities Familiarization

CA-1

IMPACT
SITE CA-2

CA-3
Thank you!