Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday underscored the importance of empowering communities to respond more effectively to natural disasters, calling it a “critical adaptation strategy” amid increasingly unpredictable and severe calamities.

During the 2025 Post-SONA discussion in San Juan City, Teodoro said while disaster response is a national concern requiring a “whole-of-government approach,” the success of any strategy depends largely on its implementation at the grassroots level.

“Iyong automatic na mga pag-react ng tao sa mga sakuna – maging lindol maging baha or maging sunog ay part ng adaptation iyan na tinatawag sa disaster risk reduction (People’s automatic reactions to disasters – whether it's an earthquake, a flood, or a fire – are part of what we call adaptation in disaster risk reduction), ” Teodoro explained. 

The defense chief also emphasized that the government is working to identify the specific vulnerabilities of all communities across the archipelago, from volcanic threats to storm surges, flooding, and earthquakes.

He added that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which the DND oversees through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), is coordinating efforts across various government agencies with specialized expertise. 

These include the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for weather and volcanic activity, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for rainfall impacts and water flow mapping.

Teodoro also highlighted the role of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in strengthening local response capacity, noting the importance of local governments as frontliners during emergencies. 

“Napakaimportante ng role ng DILG… lalung-lalo na sa first responders (The role of the DILG is very important… especially when it comes to first responders),” he said, referring to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla and local chief executives.

Further, Teodoro noted the increased difficulty of predicting disasters, with multiple hazards now occurring simultaneously — such as volcanic eruptions, typhoons, and earthquakes happening within short timeframes.

In terms of relief operations, he stressed the importance of pre-positioning supplies in disaster-prone areas. He then cited the province of Batanes as an example, where the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ensures that sufficient relief goods are stocked in advance, due to the logistical challenges of delivering aid during typhoons.

Teodoro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Philippine Air Force, plays a key role in delivering these goods. 

He disclosed that the AFP is currently working with the U.S. Marines to transport pre-positioned relief supplies to Batanes—not for immediate distribution, but to replenish existing stockpiles as part of proactive planning.

“Sa utos ng ating Pangulo na agapan at i-anticipate na lahat ng mga pangangailangan (Under the directive of our President to respond promptly and anticipate all needs),” he said, referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for anticipatory action.

Teodoro also emphasized the need to restore community-based alert systems and habits, such as the old practice of using church bells to signal evacuation.

“Iyon medyo nawala na ngayon… pero kailangan iyong mga behavior na ganoon ay mangyari uli (That has somewhat disappeared now… but those kinds of behaviors need to happen again),” he said.

Teodoro then urged for more frequent and practical disaster drills like earthquake simulations, to instill automatic, life-saving responses such as “duck, cover, and hold” across all levels of society.

As climate change and geological threats continue to challenge the country’s resilience, the DND chief reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that preparedness starts at the barangay level, “making every Filipino not just a survivor, but a first responder in their own right.”