NDRRMC on heightened alert for Super Typhoon Bavi

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operations center and its 44 member agencies are now on heightened alert in preparation for the effects of Super Typhoon Bavi, which is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

State weather bureau PAGASA said Bavi is expected to enter PAR Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. It will be given the local name Inday.

As of 3 a.m. Tuesday, Bavi is located 2,010 km east of Central Luzon. It is packed with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 240 km/h. It is moving west northwestward at 30 km/h.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, Office of the Civil Defense deputy administrator, said they have been monitoring Bavi since the weekend and have already ordered member agencies to prepare.

"So, tuloy-tuloy, naka-heightened alert na ang ating NDRRMC operations center at nakaantabay ang lahat ng miyembro nito, 44 agencies ito," he said.

He added they are monitoring the enhanced southwest monsoon that will bring heavy rains to the western seaboards of Regions 1 to 4B, particularly Palawan.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said it has placed its disaster response units on high alert ahead of the expected entry of Bavi.

Based on the latest Disaster Response Operations Monitoring, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) report, as of 6 am Monday, the DSWD has 4.775 million family food packs (FFPs) strategically prepositioned nationwide worth over Php3.009 billion.

This also includes 364,283 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes available nationwide and ready for immediate distribution to all affected individuals and families, as well as 271,446 non-food items (NFIs).

This follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that all necessary food packs and NFIs are strategically positioned before any calamity occurs.—AOL, GMA News