DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced the reconvening of the Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell (IACC) this afternoon, as the national government braces for the anticipated impact of Typhoon “Marce.”
In a press conference, Teodoro, who chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), emphasized the IACC’s critical role under the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in ensuring effective coordination across government agencies. This coordination aims to deliver essential services swiftly and efficiently during disasters.
Key IACC responsibilities include issuing timely warnings to at-risk communities and strategically prepositioning essential supplies for rapid distribution.
“We must consider what PAGASA Administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando has emphasized about Typhoon Marce’s ‘cone of uncertainty.’ This means the storm’s path and intensity could deviate from current predictions,” Teodoro stated.
Guidance to Regional Directors: Prioritize Safety
As the IACC reconvenes, Teodoro has instructed regional disaster directors—who assess risks based on data from the weather bureau and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau—to prioritize safety in their evaluations.
“Don’t be afraid to make a call that errs on the side of caution, even if it might differ from the storm’s eventual path,” the defense chief advised.
This guidance will flow from regional directors to provincial and city disaster risk reduction and management officers, down to the barangay level. Teodoro underscored the importance of local officials in risk assessments, given their unique insights into community needs and vulnerabilities.
He further called on local leaders to ensure roads and highways are kept clear to facilitate the quick movement of relief goods and services.
Additionally, Teodoro announced that the Department of the Interior and Local Government has directed municipal mayors and disaster risk reduction officers to implement evacuation plans for remote areas as needed. He encouraged them to identify centralized sites where the national government can deliver relief supplies and other essentials.
“What I want to emphasize is the need for continuous supply chains and efficient operations,” he concluded.