Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development field offices (DSWD-FOs) have deployed mobile command centers (MCC) to the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) over the weekend, aiming to enhance post-disaster operations in communities affected by Typhoon Marce.

According to Philippines News Agency, the MCCs are designed to provide continuous, effective, reliable, and timely emergency telecommunications support, focusing on various disaster reports and relief inventory. The FO-CAR command center, located in Apayao province, has become a crucial resource for affected locals who use it to access WiFi and charge their devices, as mentioned by Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.

“Our MCC houses surveillance and communication devices, power supply, and other electronic equipment. We were informed that they have been used by nearby evacuees and affected families,” Dumlao explained. The November 9 Disaster Response Operations Management
, Information, and Communication report indicates that DSWD has distributed PHP11.436 million worth of humanitarian aid to the three regions with the highest number of Marce-affected families.

This aid comprises family food packs, bottled water, and non-food items such as family and kitchen kits, including tents. The relief assistance has reached towns like Sta. Ana and Sanchez Mira, where Typhoon Marce made landfall in Cagayan province. Dumlao further noted that they anticipate an increase in relief aid in the coming days as more detailed reports on Marce’s impact are received.