Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to implement preemptive measures, including evacuations in high-risk areas, as Super Typhoon Bavi nears the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the President has directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and all relevant agencies to activate a comprehensive government response ahead of the expected entry of the cyclone, which will be locally named Inday. Castro emphasized that Marcos has instructed authorities to conduct pre-disaster risk assessments and scenario planning meetings, while ensuring that national and regional disaster response clusters remain on standby.
The government has been tasked with intensifying public warning and information campaigns across all communication platforms and implementing preemptive evacuations in areas identified as highly vulnerable to storm impacts. Additional measures include securing evacuation centers, establishing livestock and equipment holding areas, prepositioning rescue teams and relief supplies, identifying alternate transport routes, enforcing sea travel restrictions, inspecting critical infrastructure, and providing early assistance to vulnerable sectors.
'Ang utos ng Pangulo ay whole-of-government approach kaya lahat po ng ahensiya na involved ay kailangan pong kumilos (The President's directive is for a whole-of-government approach, which means all agencies involved must act accordingly),' Castro explained in a press briefing.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Bavi packs maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph. Forecasts from PAGASA indicate that the cyclone may enter PAR between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, at which point it will be assigned the local name Inday. Current forecast tracks suggest a low probability of landfall over the Philippine mainland, with the super typhoon expected to move northwestward toward Taiwan and Japan's Ryukyu Islands. However, forecasters noted that the weather system might pass near extreme Northern Luzon, particularly Batanes, by the weekend.
Department of Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan, in an online briefing Monday, mentioned that they are in close coordination with energy sector stakeholders and other government agencies, and have activated the Task Force on Energy Resiliency since last weekend. Marasigan highlighted that the task force has already established protocols on weather-related issues and is awaiting additional reports from other agencies to implement necessary measures. He assured that even if Bavi is forecast to affect mostly the northern part of the country, 'all our stakeholders are prepared and they are fully advised on the situation.'
