Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered intensified disaster preparedness measures for the onslaught of Tropical Depression (TD) Mirasol, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announcing Wednesday that over 2.5 million family food packs and relief items are on standby for deployment.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the prepositioning of aid is in line with the President's directive to ensure a swift government response to the effects of the cyclone. The DSWD added it has also stockpiled more than 100,000 ready-to-eat food boxes for stranded residents, and over 300,000 non-food relief items-including blankets, hygiene kits, and modular tents-for evacuees.

Coordination with local government units is ongoing to fast-track distribution of assistance to affected families, the agency said. Authorities urged citizens to remain alert and follow advisories from local disaster councils.

As of Wednesday morning, Mirasol was traversing northern Luzon after making landfall in Aurora province, with several areas placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1. DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the department's frontline disaster response personnel, especially in areas that have been identified to be affected by Mirasol, are closely monitoring the situation "so that we can send help immediately where it is much-needed."

"We will see to it that we will act fast to augmentation requests from our LGUs (local government units)," Dumlao said as quoted in a news release.