At A Glance
- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has raised its alert level to boost readiness for the May 12 elections.
- Coordination with key agencies is underway to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and disaster-resilient electoral process.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has raised its alert status and directed all regional offices to intensify preparedness measures to help ensure the orderly and secure conduct of the May 12 national and local elections.
OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said the agency is working closely with other government bodies to safeguard lives and uphold a credible and disaster-resilient electoral process.
“Our preparedness and coordination are vital in protecting lives, maintaining peace, and fostering public confidence in the electoral process. Every step we take now helps ensure a smooth, credible election,” Nepomuceno said.
The directive follows the extension of the Blue Alert status by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) from 8 a.m. on May 9 to 8 a.m. on May 14, giving concerned agencies sufficient time to monitor election-related developments and respond to potential emergencies.
During this period, duty officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police will remain stationed at the NDRRMC Operations Center to ensure coordinated and timely responses.
Regional OCD and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Centers (DRRMOCs) have been instructed to enhance monitoring efforts, consolidate reports, and promptly submit incident updates while maintaining close coordination with law enforcement and partner agencies to address any security or disaster-related concerns.
All incident reports from May 9 to 14 will be logged through the NDRRMC Monitoring Dashboard, with member agencies expected to provide regular updates on election preparedness and response operations.
Nepomuceno assured the public that all available resources and personnel are being mobilized to manage any contingencies that may arise in the lead-up to the elections.
He also urged candidates, voters, and election officials to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with authorities to help ensure a peaceful, orderly, and secure conduct of the elections.