MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered various government agencies to prepare for the effects of incoming Super Typhoon Bavi this week, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) said on Tuesday, July 7.

OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said government agencies have implemented preemptive measures and prepositioning of resources and manpower in areas that may be affected by Super Typhoon Bavi.

Asked about the high-risk areas for the super typhoon, Castillo said it would be extreme Northern Luzon and Eastern Luzon, including Cagayan Valley, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern Cagayan, and Isabela. 

However, he also stressed that the southwest monsoon, or habagat, will be strengthened and may bring rains and winds over the western sections of Luzon, including Metro Manila, and Visayas. 

“The local government units (LGUs) are monitoring the time for high tide and heavy rainfall outlook because of the effects of the southwest monsoon, tropical cyclone, and localized thunderstorms,” Castillo told PTV4’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon in Filipino.

He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is already coordinating with LGUs to maximize available information from science-based agencies for preemptive evacuations.

The OCD official said Marcos has directed government agencies to issue sea travel advisories on possible rough waters.

Food and non-food items have been prepositioned, while emergency telecommunications teams, logistics, power and energy groups, search and rescue teams, as well as debris cleaning and civil works clusters are already on standby.

Action from gov’t agencies

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said more than 4.7 million family food packs (FFPs) have been prepositioned, while an additional 7,000 FFPs have been delivered to Batanes.

Over 360,000 ready-to-eat food packs have also been prepositioned, the agency said.

The DSWD appealed to the public to prepare themselves and follow announcements of their local governments.

Marcos also told government agencies to take care of the livelihood of affected residents, and set up mechanisms to evacuate livestock.

Meanwhile, the DILG has placed LGUs, particularly in Northern Luzon and other hazard-prone areas, on heightened alert.

The agency also told LGUs to implement various measures, including identifying flood- and landslide-prone areas, clearing drainage systems and waterways, inspecting critical infrastructure, and intensifying public information campaigns to encourage residents to prepare emergency go bags, monitor official advisories, and avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather conditions, among others.

Weather outlook

Super Typhoon Bavi is seen to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday morning, July 8, according to the 5 pm briefing of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Once it enters PAR, it will have the local name Inday, the country’s ninth tropical cyclone.

PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said that while there are no areas affected by the direct effects of Super Typhoon Bavi yet, the tropical cyclone is starting to strengthen the southwest monsoon.

Because of this, Estareja said that there’s a high chance of rains over Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Misamis Occidental, and Lanao del Norte from Tuesday afternoon to early Wednesday morning. – Rappler.com