OCD ‘ready’ to provide emergency preparedness, response for ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting

MANILA — Several government agencies are gearing up for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Cebu on Wednesday, October 28 where top defense chiefs across the region will converge in the Philippines as this year’s host.

The Office of the Civil Defense is among the agencies preparing for the high-level event focusing on logistics management and disaster risk reduction and management.

OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) for the ASEAN Summit was placed under red alert on October 24 and over 200 of its personnel were deployed to emergency operations center and other key areas for the event.

“Naka-duty na rin on 24/7 rotation basis para sa heightened monitoring o pagbabantay at tuluy-tuloy na ‘yung ugnayan ng mga ahensyang kasapi sa EPR,” Castillo told state-run PTV in an interview Tuesday, October 27.

More than 30 command vehicles such as ambulances and firetrucks are also on standby, according to Castillo.

“Pagdating dito sa Emergency Preparedness and Response ay handang-handa po ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan para po makatulong sa matagumpay na pagdaraos ng ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting,” he noted.