The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) assures the public that, despite the challenges of “typhoon fatigue” affecting both storm victims and responders from consecutive tropical cyclones, disaster managers and responders remain dedicated to their responsibilities.
In a radio interview yesterday, Civil Defense Administrator Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno addressed the issue of fatigue among responders.
“We are experiencing a lot of fatigue, and some of our team members are getting sick. To manage this, we are implementing a rotation system. For instance, those coming from other regions, like Region Eight, were also slightly affected yesterday, but we are ensuring they get to where they need to go. Previously, we were sending support from Region Five and NCR to Region Two. It’s all about finding ways to manage the situation effectively. Meanwhile, our assistance to our fellow citizens continues without interruption,” he said.
In a press conference on Monday, OCD Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio acknowledged the physical exhaustion experienced by disaster responders and managers at all levels of government due to their ongoing disaster risk management operations.
“The beauty of it, however, is that you can see the cooperation of the various government agencies. They are the ones providing augmentation personnel. And our leaders – you can see our President, our Secretary of National Defense, and our Civil Defense Administrator – they are always there, inspiring our responders and managers to continue doing their jobs,” Idio stated.
“The Secretary of National Defense is deploying medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, every day to check the health conditions of our disaster personnel and ensure that they are in good shape.”
