CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Calabarzon has placed its Emergency Operations Center on Blue Alert to ensure heightened monitoring and preparedness for the upcoming National and Local Elections.
In a memorandum, Carlos Eduardo Alvarez III, Office of Civil Defense Calabarzon Regional Director and RDRRMC Chairperson, stated that the council is maintaining its Blue Alert status to ensure public safety and security throughout the election period.
“The RDRRMC Calabarzon supports the safe and peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections by ensuring that proper emergency preparedness measures are established and protocols are implemented,” Alvarez said.
He emphasized that large gatherings during the elections increase public vulnerability to human-induced hazards and could lead to significant impacts in the event of natural disasters.
RDRRMC member agencies, particularly those involved in emergency response, have been directed to intensify their monitoring and risk reduction efforts to address any potential incidents within their respective areas of responsibility.
Alvarez also instructed local DRRMCs and their officers to implement key measures, including strict adherence to election-related protocols, particularly those outlined in Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 11060, which prohibits the use of public funds for social services and housing projects during the election period.
Local DRRMCs have also been tasked to place disaster response and emergency teams on standby alert, ensuring that search and rescue, medical, and communication units are ready for deployment. They must also identify accident-prone and high-risk areas while prepositioning emergency response, traffic management, and security teams as needed.
To enhance public awareness, concerned agencies and local government units have been instructed to collaborate with Public Information Officers and media outlets to disseminate safety tips, security protocols, and health emergency guidelines.
Alvarez also emphasized that voting precincts will be closely monitored to ensure that emergency preparedness and response protocols are in place.
According to the COMELEC, Calabarzon remains the country’s most vote-rich region, with a total of 9,761,170 registered voters. (FC, PIA4A)
