QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) to prepare for the tropical storm ‘Mawar’ that is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday or Saturday as a super typhoon.
The DILG instructed all the local government units (LGUs) to continue monitoring the developing weather advisories and typhoon bulletins from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), especially those that reside in landslide or flood prone areas due to prolonged rain occurrences.
The LGUs are also reminded to closely monitor thunderstorm advisories, heavy rainfall warnings, basin flood bulletins, as well as the general flood advisories to determine the needed preventive measures to ensure public safety.
To further strengthen their typhoon preparedness, the local DRRMCs are encouraged to make use of the web-based hazard assessment tool ‘HazardHunterPH’ for immediate hazard information needs.
Local DRRMCs are also ordered to conduct pre-disaster risk assessments for floods, flash floods, rain-induced landslides, debris flow, and strong winds in order to provide accurate emergency communications and situational awareness to vulnerable communities.
They are likewise directed to strictly implement critical preparedness measures according to the Operation L!STO Protocols and DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-125 (L!STO SA TAG-ULAN AT COVID-19: Preparedness Measures of LGUs for the Rainy Season CY 2020) as well as to prioritize the prepositioning of essential supplies and equipment for response.
Last May 2022, the DILG issued an advisory on the “Preparedness Measures for Rainy Season C.Y. 2022" that can also be utilized by local DRRMCs as a reference in implementing necessary actions.
As per the DILG, local governments should also vigilantly monitor the areas in their cities where landslides can most likely occur such as quarry and mining sites as well as those that were underlain by old landslide deposits. The safety of canals, drainages, and other waterways are likewise ordered to be cleared while the stability of the dams must be ensured.
DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. expressed hopes that with these proactive preparations and preventive measures, the zero-casualty incidents can be rendered across the country.
“With the advisories given by PAGASA that ‘Mawar’ will most likely be a super typhoon, we need to brace ourselves and get ready to avoid casualties and other damages expected to be brought about by this potential weather disturbance,” Abalos said.
Typhoon ‘Mawar’ will be given the local typhoon name ‘Betty' once it enters PAR. (PIA-NCR)
