The Pagasa tropical cyclone advisory for Super Typhoon Mawar as of 11 a.m. of May 25, 2023.
BUTUAN CITY – The provincial government of Dinagat Islands and the local government of Zamboanga City have activated their disaster response units Thursday over the threat of the stronger monsoon winds due to the tropical cyclone Mawar.
In Dinagat Islands, acting Governor Benglen Ecleo signed an order implementing "precautionary measures" to mitigate the "effects of the enhanced habagat (monsoon) brought by TC Mawar."
The order was based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, citing that TC Mawar will enhance the southwesterly wind flow, or habagat, as it may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Friday until June 2.
Local emergency operation centers were activated under the red code alert status following Ecleo's order.
Likewise, the order activated the response clusters in the province to ensure the timely facilitation of response and humanitarian assistance to the affected sectors.
Starting Thursday, local government units in the province are mandated to disseminate vital information and updates on TC Mawar to residents, fisherfolk, traveling tourists, and business establishments.
The provincial risk reduction and management office and its counterparts were also tasked to make an inventory of their local suppliers of food and other basic commodities and ensure food sufficiency.
Zamboanga preparations
Meanwhile, the Zamboanga City disaster risk reduction and management office (CDRRMO) has also activated its emergency operations center (EOC) for the anticipated entry of super typhoon Mawar into the PAR this weekend.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, CDRRMO chief, said the EOC, which was placed on heightened alert, is manned by trained personnel of his office and volunteers ready to respond in cases of emergency during the entry of Mawar.
Apolinario said it is expected that the city and the rest of Zamboanga Peninsula will experience heavy downpours as in previous storms that hit the country.
“Although we will not be directly hit by Mawar, but it is better to be ready,” he said.
In previous storms that hit the country, several areas of the city were inundated and destroyed properties including agricultural products.
“Mawar is projected to enter PAR through Northern Luzon, but we are not discounting the possibility of adverse effects of Mawar’s tail end,” Apolinario said.
The city social welfare office has also started its stockpiling and prepositioning of relief goods and other items for swift distribution to possible victims of flash floods. (PNA)
