The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reactivated its emergency operations coordinating cell, which serves as the primary mechanism overseeing the immediate preparatory, rescue, and relief operations for areas affected by the recent calamities.

In anticipation of the onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine last week and the expected intensity of the effects of Typhoon Leon this week, the Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell (IACC) was brought back into action through the directive of NDRRMC Chairperson and Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., who presided over the IACC briefings.

The IACC provides operational and tactical support to the Cabinet-level council members of the NDRRMC. It is composed of Office of Civil Defense (OCD) duty officers and response cluster representatives from the NDRRMC member agencies, who are on watch in the OCD Command Center on a 24/7 basis. They are mandated to provide immediate feedback and support to the issues raised during the regular briefings of the IACC.

Since its reactivation, the mechanism supported the government’s comprehensive immediate and continuing relief operations through streamlined and rapid coordination with implementing agencies and local government units, as well as regional offices of the OCD.

The IACC also provides a “one-stop shop” for emergency operations coordination with the country’s international partners. This includes support for the Multinational Coordination Center (MNCC) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which effectively facilitated the protocols for the assistance from foreign militaries, which provided crucial augmentation in the transportation of aid to severely affected areas and communities.

The continuing enhancement of the country’s disaster response coordination is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to ensure that help is immediately delivered to Filipinos in need during calamities.