Predictive Disaster Response: Groups Raise Concerns Over Gaps

CEBU, Philippines – Environmental groups and activists in the Visayas and Mindanao raised concerns over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for a “predictive” approach to disaster response, saying technology-driven systems must be paired with measures that address the challenges faced by communities when disasters disrupt basic services. In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, Marcos said the country has moved on from a reactive approach to disasters and is gearing toward a predictive, digitally-aided system of response. Environmental group Mindanao Climate Justice (MCJ) welcomed Marcos’ commitment to improving disaster response but said a digital-first approach alone could leave communities overlooked when power, communications, and transport networks fail. For Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Central Visayas, Marcos’ predictive approach does not address what the group called the root problem in the country’s disaster prevention and response system: corruption. Marcos premised the government’s predictive disaster response approach on lessons learned from disasters in the Visayas and Mindanao, which resulted in the establishment of disaster resource centers and new response strategies. “Now, we’re not only proactive, but predictive as well, aided by digital tools. The strategies of public-private supply chains, hubs-and-spokes warehousing, automated production, and widescale pre-positioning of food and non-food supplies in LGUs, have proven their efficacy,” Marcos said during the SONA. Marcos said the government now has Mobile Energy Systems for communities needing emergency power, along with Government Emergency Communications Systems and private sector-led satellite-to-mobile services to maintain stable telecommunications during disasters. In a statement sent to Rappler on Tuesday, July 28, MCJ said, “Technology must support—not replace—community networks, accountable public institutions, and the leadership of affected Moro, Indigenous, and other local communities in planning and monitoring their recovery.” The group said poverty in communities also determines who are able to receive warnings, who are able to evacuate, whose homes are most vulnerable to disasters, and who remains displaced long after emergency assistance ends. “Families living on daily farming or informal work cannot rebuild through relief packs, tents, and emergency cash alone,” MCJ added. MCJ also urged Marcos to complete the promised primary disaster resource centers in Mindanao as soon as possible, citing the latest data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that tallied displacement after the June 8 Mindanao earthquake at nearly 95,000 individuals. “A truly proactive response must continue through permanent housing, restored livelihoods, functioning schools and health services, psychosocial support, and safe and dignified return,” MCJ concluded. All must face accountability For its part, BAYAN Central Visayas called on the government to address first the problem on corruption. “Dili igo ang pag-preposition og relief goods kung ang gobyerno mismo napakyas sa pagpatuman og epektibong flood control ug disaster mitigation,” said BAYAN Central Visayas chairperson Jaime Paglinawan. (The pre-positioning of relief goods is not enough when the government itself failed to implement effective flood control and disaster mitigation.) BAYAN Central Visayas said the reported recovery of around P800 million and the freezing of several billion pesos that went to corruption were insignificant compared to the hundreds of billions in public funds that were used for anomalous flood control projects. It pointed out that the impact of disasters have been worsened by corruption, the destruction of natural resources, and policies that put big businesses and foreign powers first over the people’s welfare. “True predictive response means preventing the problem before disaster strikes, not waiting for the people to drown before acting. We must not allow the promises in the SONA to serve as a cover for the regime’s corruption and failure,” Paglinawan said. The group called for a broader investigation into all government officials and contractors allegedly involved in the flood control corruption scandal, rather than what it described as a limited probe into a few suspected individuals. During the SONA, Marcos named his close ally and cousin, former House speaker Martin Romualdez, saying he is set to face multiple cases to be filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. Earlier, the Ombudsman identified Romualdez as a central figure in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal. Romualdez, in a statement on Monday afternoon, reiterated that he was ready to prove his innocence. Funds still needed While Marcos highlighted the government’s shift toward predictive disaster response, people in earthquake-hit provinces in Central Visayas and Soccsksargen continue to seek answers on the release of additional funds for disaster recovery. Marcos said the country has spent over P3 billion for immediate assistance to families who were most affected by the quakes — more than 600,000 based on the President Marcos’ count. Many parts of the recently-hit Sarangani province, General Santos City, and neighboring areas are still reeling from the impact of the June 2026 quake that caused P1.4-billion worth of damage to infrastructure. Likewise in Cebu, the September 2025 quake left the province with infrastructure damage of up to P73 million. On July 20, Sarangani Governor Rogelio “Ruel” Pacquiao disclosed that the province would be utilizing cash donations from private donors to cover repairs for over 1,500 damaged classrooms as the Department of Education “lacked the sufficient funds to repair them all.” On June 24, the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas approved a resolution asking national government agencies to expedite the release of P6.6 billion in rehabilitation funds for parts of Cebu that were hit by both the earthquake and Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) in 2025. According to the council, only P856 million has been released from an estimated P4.5 billion under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Quick Response Fund meant for at least 148 repair and rehabilitation projects in Cebu. Play Video – Rappler.com