The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units to organize and activate teams tasked with accounting for dead and missing persons ahead of the 2026 tropical cyclone season.
In a statement issued Monday, the DILG said all LGUs were directed to establish local clusters focused on the management of casualties as part of heightened disaster preparedness measures.
The department said the move was aimed at ensuring a more orderly and humane response during disasters, particularly in handling information and assistance for affected families.
The directive was contained in Memorandum Circular No. 2026-003, which was made public on January 27 and cited persistent gaps and weaknesses in existing systems for managing dead and missing persons.
According to the DILG, local clusters were tasked with improving coordination with search, rescue, and retrieval teams, as well as with local incident command posts.
The department said the clusters were also expected to ensure accurate recording, validation, and consolidation of data related to casualties during typhoons and other disasters.
The DILG said the measure was part of broader efforts to strengthen disaster response mechanisms at the local level ahead of the annual typhoon season.