Two years after the onslaught of Ondoy, Malacañang on Monday said the government is now more ready and able to face calamities with the upgraded and updated quality of forecasting.

At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is now “very accurate with respect to weather forecasting."

“For that reason we are able to pre-position the goods properly," he said.

He added the National Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) “has been on the ball in every storm, in every situation… We have always relied on them."

“… They have been very, very updated in whatever it is… Whether it’s a storm, whether it’s a tsunami alert," Lacierda said.

He also cited the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Department of Interior and Local Government for being “very, very vigilant."

“All the agencies are working in tandem to make sure that we are able to address any natural calamity," Lacierda said.

More than 400 people were killed after Ondoy poured a record amount of rainfall over Metro Manila and nearby areas in Luzon.

The flooding caused by Ondoy also affected 4.8 million people and caused up to P11 billion in property damage. — VS, GMA News