CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday directed local government units (LGUs) to utilize HazardHunterPH as Super Typhoon Mawar nears the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

In a statement on Wednesday, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. said all LGUs, especially those in areas with recent experience of extended or prolonged rain occurrences, landslides or floods, shall continue to monitor all weather advisories and typhoon bulletins issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and use HazardHunterPH to generate indicative hazard assessment reports on their respective jurisdictions.

“With the advisories given by Pagasa, we need to brace ourselves and get ready to avoid casualties and other damages expected to be brought about by this potential weather disturbance through proactive and preventive measures against the super typhoon,” Abalos said.

In addition, the DILG has directed all its regional offices to coordinate with their respective regional and local disaster risk reduction and management councils, convene and conduct pre-disaster risk assessments for floods, flash floods, rain-induced landslides, debris flow, and strong winds.

If deemed necessary, LGUs are also urged to conduct preemptive evacuation and avoid areas affected by repeated flooding and landslides, meandering rivers with hillsides and riverbank erosion, floodplains with shifting and braiding streams, coastal areas affected by storm surge, flash flood areas, river deltas with many distributary channels, among others.

LGUs are also expected to conduct pruning of trees and vegetation and clearing of waterways such as canals and drainages and keep communities continuously informed and advised of situation updates and preparations.

In its 5:00 am bulletin on Wednesday , Pagasa said Super Typhoon Mawar is slowly moving northwestward and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as "Betty" either Friday or Saturday. It is packing maximum sustained winds of up to 185 kph and gustiness of up to 230 kilometers per hour.

Pagasa added that the tropical cyclone has a small chance of making landfall but may enhance the southwest monsoon that will cause rains, particularly in the western section of Luzon, the Visayas, and possibly Mindanao. Currently, the super typhoon is located 2,215 kilometers east of Visayas.