capability level disaster response, disaster management, Ormoc City Police Office 

The recent occurrence of typhoons in the Philippines in 2022 has reaffirmed that the Asia-Pacific region remains that most disaster-prone part of the world. In the Philippines, Ormoc City, in Leyte Province, is one of the vulnerable areas susceptible to natural hazards and extreme weather patterns due to its geographical location. Following a disaster, the police play a vital role in ensuring public safety, managing evacuation and shelter, facilitating rescue operations, coordinating the response, and communicating with the public. As a result, the police must remain highly capable in performing their disaster response functions. This study examined the capability level of the Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO) in disaster response, analyzing data collected from 334 police officers using quantitative approach descriptive-evaluative research design. Results indicated that OCPO has a high level of capability in disaster response in terms of personnel, but moderate capacity issues were identified in training, funding, logistics, and collaboration. Challenges faced concerning disaster response include obsolete equipment, insufficient budget allocation, inadequate training, and difficult evacuees. Similarly, collaboration challenges encountered were insufficient time for collaboration, differing perspectives, and delayed distribution of directives. These findings are a valuable resource for policy-makers and public safety practitioners to gain an actual understanding of the areas in disaster response that needs to be strengthened and to formulate effective strategies to overcome shortcomings.