PBBM orders agencies to prepare for onslaught of super typhoon
The government is taking the appropriate steps as the country braces for the possible effects of Super Typhoon Mawar, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public on Thursday.
In a Facebook post, Marcos said the government continues to monitor the situation and updates on the expected onslaught of Mawar as it moves closer to the Philippine area of responsibility after hammering Guam.
“We are preparing for its possible effects not only on the northern part of the country but also in areas that might be possibly hit by the typhoon,” Marcos said in Filipino.
Marcos said Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. assured him that the national government and local government units (LGUs) are ready to provide assistance to areas where Mawar may wreak havoc.
“We made sure that funds and food packs have already been positioned, response teams are on standby, and LGUs are ready to assist the areas that might be hit by the typhoon,” he said.
Mawar has maintained its strength and its “much closer approach” to the Philippines, the 11 a.m. weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Mawar was last spotted 2,065 km east of southeastern Luzon, packing maximum winds of up to 185 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
Moving west at 10 kph, Mawar may enter PAR by Friday evening or Saturday morning and will be given the local name Betty.
Mawar is forecast to continue intensifying in the next three days and may reach a peak intensity of 215 kph by Sunday.
PAGASA said the typhoon’s rain bands may bring heavy rains over Cagayan Valley between Sunday and Tuesday next week.
A tropical cyclone wind signal may be hoisted in the coming days, as strong to gale-force conditions may be experienced in most areas of the region, except for Batanes-Babuyan Islands area which may have gale to storm-force conditions.
Mawar may also enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rains over the western parts of Luzon and Visayas beginning Sunday or Monday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is anticipating that eight airports will be affected by Mawar.
Those airports include Tuguegarao Airport, Basco Airport, Itbayat Airport, Cauayan Airport, and Palanan Airport, according to CAAP.
Additionally, airports in Laoag, Vigan, and Baguio are also gearing up for possible harsh weather.
As of Thursday, CAAP Tuguegarao Airport assisted in the delivery of 1,000 boxes of relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) Region 2 through C-130 aircraft from Tuguegarao to Basco Airport in preparation for the coming typhoon.
In a message, CAAP Area Center 2 Manager Mary Sulyn Sagorsor said precautionary measures are being undertaken by Tuguegarao Airport for the coming super typhoon, such as clearing of waterways and canals and cutting or pruning of branches of trees near the Passenger Terminal
Building, especially at the arrival area and other areas inside the airport’s premises.
CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said airport personnel are positioned and ready to implement necessary measures to safeguard the facilities and ensure the safety of passengers.
“CAAP-operated airports are often well-prepared in the event of flight delays or possible cancellations brought by natural calamities, and utmost care is usually provided to affected passengers,” he said.
In other developments:
• The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced it alerted all of its search, rescue and retrieval units for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in areas that might be affected by the looming Super Typhoon Mawar. AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said vehicles and personnel are being prepared to assist in the mandatory evacuation of residents in vulnerable areas. Aguilar added that air and naval assets are also on standby for deployment for future aerial assessment, transport, and evacuation operations.
• The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is on red alert status and ready for the possible onslaught of Typhoon Mawar. MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the agency’s Urban Search and Rescue Team composed of 20 men trained in water search and rescue operations is now on standby to render assistance in road clearing, rescue and quick response, traffic management, and other operations to different areas in the National Capital Region
