The government and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recommended the evacuation of residents in areas that might be inaccessible to rescuers, such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), ahead of the expected impact of Tropical Cyclone Marce.
According to Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Chairman of the NDRRMC, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) already issued directives to local government units (LGUs).
While no specific areas have been identified, he stated that forced evacuations should be implemented before Tropical Cyclone Marce makes landfall.
The secretary acknowledged that the storm’s track may still change, which the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) must be ready for.
He said that there are areas, particularly along the eastern seaboard of Region II, where forced evacuations are being enforced. However, regional directors and local authorities will be allowed to provide accurate and timely information on where forced evacuations will take place.
"Mahirap pong magbigay ng sagot on a national basis kasi baka magkaroon ng false information [and] panic. Ayan po ang ayaw nating mangyari," Teodoro said during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
"We leave it to the local officials as with protocol to enforce the evacuations. They must have identified the areas already," he added.
In areas that rarely experience forced evacuations, local officials from the LGUs, with the help of regional OCD officials, are tasked with comparing information and making the best assessment on whether or not an evacuation is necessary.
Teodoro also stated that government agencies consistently encourage everyone to err on the side of caution, emphasizing that it is better to make safe mistakes than to take unnecessary risks.
He added that the DILG instructed local officials to be proactive in providing information to communities and to act swiftly in identifying and evacuating residents.
