Caritas Philippines on Friday announced its preparedness for the possible impacts of Super Typhoon Betty (international name: Mawar) which is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the next 24 to 48 hours.
“Our monitoring is ongoing and the coordination with different communities. We are also in coordination with the Dioceses across the country to identify who needs further assistance and which diocese can provide one to help those who will be affected,” said Jing Rey Henderson, Communication and Partnership Development Unit Coordinator of Caritas Philippines.
Henderson said Caritas Philippines has also activated diocesan social action centers as “first responders” and “rapid assessment teams” that can “provide immediate assistance to affected communities” and “provide useful information as to how bad the impact is.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on May 25 said local government units across the country, especially those in the projected storm track and with areas susceptible to flood and landslides, “had been given reminders on the conduct of preparations by the Department of Interior and Local Government.”
“The Office of Civil Defense, agencies of the preparedness and response clusters, as well as the various local government units are also monitoring all areas that may experience inclement weather so that any untoward incidents can be prevented or responded to immediately,” NDRRMC Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator, Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno explained.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, more than 7,400 kilos of Family Food Packs have been sent to Batanes province as ‘standby supplies’ for citizens who are expected to be affected by the calamity.
There are 15,000 AFP personnel who are all Medical, Army, Navy, Air Force personnel, and Reservists who will mainly respond to the needs of those affected by the typhoon.
In the latest report of the PAG-ASA Weather Forecasting Center this morning at ten o’clock, Supertyphoon Betty was last spotted at a distance of 1,705 km from the East of the Southeast part of Luzon.
The typhoon has a strength that will reach 215 km per hour and a gust that will reach 260 km per hour. – with reports from Veritas 846
