QUEZON CITY — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced the reconvening of the Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell (IACC) this afternoon as the national government gears up for the potential impact of Typhoon Marce.
In a press conference, Teodoro, who also chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), emphasized that the IACC—operating under the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)—will facilitate coordination among various government agencies to deliver essential services during disasters. This includes issuing early warnings to affected communities and strategically planning the prepositioning of critical goods and services for swift delivery to those in need.
“We must remember what (Pagasa administrator) Dr. (Nathaniel) Servando shared, that this Typhoon Marce has a ‘cone of uncertainty.’ This means that it might change its course or its strength might also be different from what has been predicted,” Teodoro stated in Filipino.
Regional directors told: Give best judgment
As the IACC reconvenes, Teodoro has instructed regional disaster directors—who analyze information from the weather bureau and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau regarding flood and landslide risks—to exercise their best judgment in assessing the situation.
“Let us not be afraid that our estimate or our best judgment will deviate from the actual course, just as long as the error is on the side of safety,” the defense chief urged.
This information will be relayed from regional directors to provincial and city risk reduction and management officers, eventually reaching the barangay level. Teodoro highlighted the importance of local officials in making projections, as they have a better understanding of their communities.
He also called on local officials to keep roads and highways clear to ensure the rapid delivery of relief goods and services.
In addition, Teodoro announced that the Department of the Interior and Local Government has mandated municipal mayors and disaster risk reduction and management officers to enforce evacuations in remote areas. He urged municipal officials to identify centralized locations for the national government to deliver relief goods and other essential items.
“What I would like to underscore is the need for continuous supply chains and efficient operations,” he added. (OCD)
