Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has ordered the institutionalization of active disaster response among all government agencies following the series of weather disturbances that hit the country, which weather experts described as unusual.
The Philippines was hit by six successive weather disturbances—from tropical storm “Kristine” which brought widespread flooding to super typhoon ‘Pepito” which unleashed strong winds— in a span of less than one month and the country’s disaster response managers want to further enhance disaster response.
Teodoro, who also chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), has already issued a memorandum order which directed all NDRRMC and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) member agencies to adopt and operationalize the Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell (IACC).
The IACC is designed as a multi-agency platform that promotes immediate coordination and informed decision-making among government agencies involved in disaster preparedness, response, and early recovery.
This initiative aims to ensure that relevant agencies can effectively respond to potential threats and make unified decisions during emergencies.
"The establishment of the IACC marks a crucial step in our collective efforts to enhance our disaster response capabilities. By fostering collaboration among agencies, we can ensure a swift and effective response to any disaster situation that may arise,” said Teodoro.
Teodoro said the IACC will provide a common operational picture for all government agencies and disaster response organizations to aid in preparedness and response planning, adding that it will also serve as a venue for collaborative disaster risk assessment and planning to enhance overall effectiveness.
“Additionally, the IACC will facilitate information management between agencies for prompt and informed decision-making, continuously monitoring and assessing real-time situation updates to issue timely warnings to communities, local government units, and the general public,” he said.
The National IACC will be chaired by the Chairperson of the NDRRMC, while the Regional IACC will be chaired by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director.
The OCD, on the other hand, will facilitate all activities within this platform and encourage member agencies to convene at the NDRRMC/RDRRMC Emergency Operations Center as necessary.