Baguio: The Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) is placing the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) under red alert status from May 11 to 14 for the May 12 midterm elections. In Memorandum 60-2025 issued Monday, Albert Mogol, CDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense-CAR director, emphasized the need for “maximum, timely and responsive monitoring, warning, coordination, interoperability and facilitation of preparedness and response readiness measures” by the concerned agencies from the provincial to the barangay level.
According to Philippines News Agency, the memorandum identified nine areas in Cordillera as election areas of concern. These include Bangued, Bucay, and Pilar, categorized under “orange,” and Lagayan, Pidigan, Tayum, Tineg, Dolores, and Lagangilang under “yellow,” all located in Abra province. The classification highlights the necessity to monitor potential human-induced hazards and terrorism-related incidents.
Areas under the “yellow” category have previously reported suspected election-related incidents in the past two elections without domestic terror group participation. These areas were previously declared under Comelec control, indicating potential armed group presence and intense political rivalries. The “orange” category signifies areas with a combination of factors from the “yellow” category, with serious armed threats from communist terror groups (CTGs) or other threat groups.
Memorandum 60-2025 further instructed members of the Cordillera Regional Incident Management Team and Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis teams to remain on standby for potential deployment. CAR is home to 1,442,504 registered voters who are expected to participate in the elections across 1,428 voting centers in six provinces and two cities.
Additionally, the memorandum addressed the potential development of a low-pressure area 440 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, in the next two weeks, which may require immediate action from disaster units. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast suggested that tropical cyclone-like vortices (TCLV) might recurve northeastward while at the East Philippine Sea, with a low to moderate possibility of tropical cyclone formation from May 7 to 13. ‘Therefore, the TC threat potential is likely in the next two weeks,’ the memorandum stated.
