Naga’s IMT, EOC conduct post-assessment of ST Uwan response

Naga’s Incident Management Team (IMT) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) have conducted a post-evaluation and assessment of their preparations and operations before, during, and after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan on November 8–9, 2025.

Acting City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (DRRMO) Raynor Rodriguez said the activity aimed to identify areas for improvement in the city government’s disaster preparedness and response strategies for future typhoons.

During the evaluation, IMT and EOC members noted a shortage of responders and volunteers at the height of the typhoon. Despite the limited manpower, Rodriguez said all aspects of operations were managed efficiently due to coordination among teams and the cooperation of residents. Some volunteers, however, failed to report for duty until the second day of the calamity.

The assessment covered several key operations, including the distribution of food and relief goods, the condition and suitability of the Sta. Cruz Evacuation Center—which needs retrofitting to better serve as a temporary shelter—the responsiveness of residents during pre-emptive evacuations, camp management in evacuation centers, and the deployment of emergency vehicles to assist stranded passengers.

In its overall findings, the EOC and IMT concluded that the city government performed commendably in ensuring the safety and security of the public throughout the disaster.

Among the recommendations raised was to prioritize the safety and accommodation of evacuees over the allocation of parking spaces for vehicles, citing the situation at the second floor of the Naga City People’s Mall evacuation site. The teams also emphasized that only one Incident Management Team should operate under the Incident Command System (ICS) to maintain unified command and coordination.

Because of the city’s timely and well-coordinated operations—along with the cooperation of residents—Naga recorded zero casualties during the typhoon. A total of 7,388 families or 27,297 individuals sought shelter in various evacuation centers across the city. I via Jason B. Neola