Marcos: Nat'l gov't ready to assist LGUs in Mawar response

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Friday that the national government is ready to assist local government units (LGUs) as Super Typhoon Mawar threatens to bring heavy rains in several parts of the country. 

PAGASA's 11 am bulletin showed that Mawar "slightly intensified" and may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday night or Saturday morning. 

“We have already warned the LGUs to prepare in case of heavy rains and flooding. So ang aming ginagawa ay we leave it to the LGUs right now to make the call kung ano ang gagawin nila,” Marcos said. 

“Pero nandito lang, sinasabi namin the national government is here to assist. We are in constant contact with the local governments para makita natin what is the situation in their place,” he added.

PAGASA said Mawar may bring heavy rains over Northern Luzon beginning late Sunday or on Monday next week. It may also bring strong to storm-force conditions over Extreme Northern Luzon, while strong to gale-force conditions are possible over the northern and eastern portions of Northern Luzon mainland. 

Mawar is also forecast to enhance the Southwest Monsoon which may bring monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas beginning on Sunday or Monday.

Marcos, meanwhile, has already discussed typhoon preparations with Defense officer-in-charge Undersecretary Carlito Galvez. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has also released a statement saying the whole government is ready for the possible impact of Mawar.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded local government units to start preparations.

Marcos also said that the national government will also find out the LGUs’ needs after the possible onslaught of the typhoon so it can respond to their respective situations properly.

Earlier, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) suspended sea trips to Cebu City and Calbayog City to give way to the preparation of the shipping line for Super Typhoon Mawar. —VAL, GMA Integrated News