The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday directed all local government units (LGUs) to establish and operationalize local clusters for the management of dead and missing persons (MDM) as part of heightened preparedness for the upcoming typhoon season.

The directive supports the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to further strengthen local disaster readiness and ensure a swift, organized, and humane response during emergencies.

As the lead agency of the National and Regional MDM Cluster, the DILG underscored the need for clear coordination among LGUs, national government agencies, and response partners to ensure orderly processes, accurate documentation, and the dignified handling of disaster casualties.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 2026-003, LGUs and partner agencies are instructed to organize and activate local MDM clusters within their respective jurisdictions to ensure systematic and well-coordinated operations before, during, and after disasters.

Local MDM clusters are mandated to strengthen coordination mechanisms, align preparedness plans, and support response and recovery efforts in close coordination with Incident Command Posts (ICPs). Pre-positioned MDM teams may be deployed as needed, are required to report to the ICP on the ground, and must operate in accordance with the approved MDM action plan.

The DILG further directed local MDM teams to work closely with the Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SRR) Cluster to support search operations and ensure proper recording and validation of all MDM-related data, including cases involving foreign nationals affected by disasters in the country.

MDM teams will be deactivated only after all reported cases have been verified, validated, and accurately reflected in official situation reports.

By strengthening MDM clusters at all levels, the DILG aims to ensure that disaster response efforts remain organized, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of affected communities and families.