Marcos calls for 'semi-permanent' typhoon response systems

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called for a shift in mindset regarding disaster preparedness during a meeting with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday.

Marcos urged government agencies to treat typhoon response systems as 'semi-permanent' due to worsening climate change impacts, noting that extreme weather events are now common and unpredictable.

He emphasized that existing standard operating procedures for rescue and relief delivery need further strengthening given the frequency of storms this year, with 12 to 15 typhoons expected in total.

The President also raised concerns about prolonged class suspensions affecting students' education and health risks posed by evacuees staying in centers for extended periods.

Marcos visited evacuation centers in San Mateo, Rizal, where he ordered the deployment of medical teams to prevent disease outbreaks and witnessed the distribution of water filtration kits and food packs to over 1,000 families.

Alternative learning modes were suggested due to recurring class suspensions during storms, while severe Tropical Storm Emong has intensified into a typhoon affecting Luzon and parts of the Visayas.