BAGUIO CITY: Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced on Monday that the city has been preparing for the potential impact of Typhoon Nika, also known internationally as Toraji, since Sunday. Equipment has been strategically decentralized for easier access and deployment in anticipation of the storm's effects. According to Philippines News Agency, officials from local villages, city administrations, and national agencies have coordinated to ensure the availability of response teams, food packs, and emergency shelters. "We have prepared and we ensure that the city, the barangay (village) disaster response teams, including our equipment, are ready," stated Mayor Magalong. The province of Benguet, where Baguio City is located, is predicted to experience intense to torrential rainfall until Tuesday. Mayor Magalong noted that the city is expected to endure significant rainfall from noon until 8 p.m. and emphasized the unusual amount of rain forecasted. While expressing optimism that the surrounding mountain s might help mitigate the typhoon's strength, Mayor Magalong cautioned about the potential for soil erosion. "Hindi natin masasabi na saturated ang soil (we cannot say that the soil is saturated) but looking at (the) amount of rainfall, (it is) alarming, so let us see. We might expect erosion anytime today with the amount of rainfall forecast)," he said. In preparation for the storm, Mayor Magalong also urged residents to note the suspension of garbage collection and advised against disposing of waste in waterways to avoid blockages and flooding.