04/08/2026
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗗𝗠 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲: 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲
𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿
The Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) Cluster, led by the DILG, under the Disaster Response Cluster System, tested its operational readiness during a tabletop exercise facilitated by the Parañaque City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).
Opening the activity, CDRRMO Chief Dr. Teodoro Benjamin Gonzalez, Jr. underscored the importance of the cluster approach in disaster response, stressing that while agencies perform distinct mandates, an effective response relies on coordinated, agency-specific actions anchored on a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
The exercise walked participating agencies through a series of disaster scenarios simulating a major earthquake that triggered mass casualties, disrupted communications, damaged facilities, and overwhelmed response capacities. Participants discussed continuity of operations, inter-cluster coordination, information management through the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), responder safety, and the ethical, legal, and culturally appropriate management of the dead and missing.
The scenarios also challenged the cluster to address operational concerns such as limited manpower, unidentified victims, temporary collection and burial sites, centralized missing persons documentation, and the prevention of exploitation of bereaved families. Throughout the discussions, member agencies emphasized coordinated decision-making and the need to complement, rather than duplicate, the mandates of other response clusters.
The activity concluded with a hot wash session, where participating agencies identified operational gaps and agreed on priority measures to strengthen the MDM Cluster’s preparedness, including improving communication protocols, formalizing coordination mechanisms, and refining local response procedures.
IIn his closing message, CD John Visca, MDM Cluster Lead, emphasized that while no one wishes for disasters or incidents resulting in loss of life, it is through preparedness, trust, and strong inter-agency coordination that the MDM Cluster can respond with dignity and compassion whenever called upon.