Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 340)
The Mayor of each chartered city, municipality, or municipal district is responsible for organizing the CEA Guards in his respective area.
During such emergencies, members of CEA Guards, Police, Traffic Control, and Guard Duty Units are invested with the powers of police officers in the performance of their duties.
Enrollment in the CEA Guards is on a voluntary basis.
Any able-bodied Filipino citizen between 18 and 50 years old is eligible for enrollment except those specifically exempted.
Exempted groups include military officers and enlisted men, regular police forces, fire departments, certain government field employees, essential public utility workers, health workers, and personnel of organizations like the Philippine National Red Cross and Social Welfare Commission.
Members serve without compensation but are entitled to free transportation and subsistence during active service if called upon.
Enrollment is for a period of one year from the date of enrollment unless terminated sooner by competent authority.
The organizational units include Police, Traffic Control and Guard Duty Unit; Food and Fuel Administration Unit; Communication, Transportation, and POL Control Unit; Public Welfare and Morale Unit; and Fire-Fighting Unit.
The training is conducted under the general supervision and direction of the Commanding Officer of the Philippine Constabulary.
Functions include maintaining law and order, controlling traffic, safeguarding public utilities and industrial plants, preparing and executing communication and transportation control plans, establishing first aid and fire-fighting services.
They continue mobilization duties, cooperate with police in maintaining order, rescue trapped persons, conduct evacuations, clear debris, assist in utility repair, control and extinguish fires, and execute emergency plans as directed by the Municipal Emergency Committee.
Those on Police and Traffic Control duty are equipped with night sticks and police whistles; those on Guard duty at essential industries are equipped with police whistles and may be armed with revolvers or shotguns.
First Aid Unit members wear a white arm-band with a superimposed blue cross.
Provincial Governors can call CEA Guard units to active duty in municipalities and municipal districts, while mayors can call them to active duty in chartered cities. Mayors can also call units to active duty immediately during imminent emergencies.