The Marcos administration continues to do the necessary preparations for the possible effects to be brought by Typhoon Mawar to the country.

In a statement, Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro IV said the OCD and its regional offices are monitoring the situation, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other concerned government agencies.

Alejandro said the OCD has initially alerted the local government units (LGUs) in the eastern seaboard of the country that could be affected by the storm. Although, based on current forecast, the storm is not expected to make a landfall and will have no direct effect on the country’s weather system, officials stressed Mawar could pull or intensify southwest monsoon or habagat, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rain as it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

The OCD will also conduct pre-disaster risk assessment with science agencies to identify the LGUs at risk and determine the prescribed alert level and corresponding response protocols.

Alejandro said responders and rescue teams are now on alert and standby, adding that relief goods and other items were stockpiled and pre-positioned.

Mawar was reported to be at 2,215 km east of Visayas region, moving in the north and northwest direction at 10 kilometers per hour, according to the OCD and NDRRMC.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Mawar may enter the PAR as a super typhoon by late Friday or early Saturday. Once it enters the PAR, the typhoon will be named “Betty.” (PND)