The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) assured the public of the readiness of the government to respond to the expected onslaught of Super Typhoon Mawar.
OCD Joint Information Center head Diego Mariano said on Wednesday, May 24, that rescue teams, responders, and disaster workers have been placed on alert, and remain on standby.
Mariano added the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has also prepositioned equipment in preparation for ST Mawar.
"Yung ating mga clearing materials, yung mga pang-clearing na heavy equipmwent ay naka-ready at naka-preposition na rin," Mariano said during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime.
"Halos lahat ng member agencies ng NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) are naka-prepare para sa papalapit na bagyo," he added.
OCD expects that ST Mawar will affect Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Western Visayas, and some parts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Mariano stressed that OCD continues to prepare for possible disasters even without the threat of a super typhoon.
The OCD official pointed out the Philippines records an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year, and also experiences rains due to other rain systems.
"Ang ating preparation ay tuloy-tuloy lang kasama na diyan yung pag-repack ng mga relief good, pag-stockpile, at pag-preposition ng mga relief good, kasama na diyan yung non-food items na dala rin ng Office of Civil Defense," Mariano said.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects that ST Mawar will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility either on the evening of Friday, May 26, or the morning of Saturday, May 27.
PAGASA will give the name Betty to ST Mawar when it enters PAR.
