The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will be placed under “blue alert” status in preparation for the upcoming May 12 midterm elections.
The NDRRMC issued Memorandum No. 102 series of 2025 last April 25 effectively raising the blue alert status at the NDRRM Operations Center (NDRRMOC) from 8 a.m. of May 11 (Sunday) to 8 a.m. of May 14 (Wednesday) “to closely monitor, consolidate, and ensure prompt coordination with concerned agencies and offices.”
The memo was signed by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Deputy Administrator for Operations Asst. Sec. Cesar M. Idio and noted by OCD Administrator Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno.
Under the blue alert status, half of NDRRMC’s disaster officials are on standby and prepared to respond in case of an emergency.
Nepomuceno appealed to the public to stay vigilant and remain cooperative as the country prepares for the midterm elections, where an estimated 68 million voters are expected to participate.
In a statement Sunday, April 27, Nepomuceno said that duty officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were instructed to render duty at the NDRRMOC to provide real-time responses, support requests, and address issues that may arise from regional disaster councils and partner agencies.
A total of 362 “election hotspots” or areas of concern due to incidents of poll-related violence are being monitored by the PNP, although it was significantly lower from 941 hotspots recorded in 2019 and 844 in 2022.
As such, regional offices of the OCD and disaster management centers were directed to intensify monitoring efforts, gather and review reports on election-related incidents, and work hand-in-hand with authorities to help maintain a safe, secure, and orderly election process.
“The role of the OCD is crucial in promoting a culture of preparedness and resilience. We’re calling on everyone—candidates, voters, and stakeholders—to cooperate with authorities and stay alert during this time. A peaceful and safe election depends on our collective effort,” Nepomuceno said.
He reiterated the OCD’s commitment to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies.
He then encouraged the public to stay alert and cooperate with law enforcement and disaster response teams.