PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday assured the public of the government’s preparedness to respond to communities that would be hit by Super Typhoon Goring.

In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Marcos said the government is monitoring the typhoon-stricken areas, particularly those situated in Northern Luzon.

“Nakatutok ang ating pamahalaan sa sitwasyon ng Northern Luzon na muling nakararanas ng malakas na ulan at hangin na dala ng Bagyong #GoringPH (Our government is focused on the situation in Northern Luzon which is once again experiencing heavy rain and wind brought by Typhoon #GoringPH),” he said.

“Nakaantabay din ang ating mga disaster and response units kung kinakailangan ng evacuation at rescue operations (Our disaster and response units are also on standby if evacuation and rescue operations are required),” he added.

Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has already prepositioned over 10,000 food packs in the affected areas.

He said the government would make sure that there is a sufficient supply of food and other non-food items until the typhoon exits the country.

Goring has reached super typhoon category and was spotted based on all available data, including those from Baler and Daet Weather Radars, at 95 km east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of the 11 a.m. weather bulletin Sunday.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is up over the eastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue, Ilagan City, San Mariano).

Meanwhile, Local Government secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. has urged local chief executives in the Cagayan Valley region and areas to be affected by Typhoon “Goring” to be on alert.

According to Abalos, governors and mayors should carry out the necessary critical preparedness actions under the Department’s Operation Listo preparedness manual.

The DILG Region 2 office was also directed to activate the emergency operations center (EOC) and disaster online reporting and monitoring system (DORMS) to ensure the adherence of local government units within their jurisdiction to Operation Listo disaster protocols.

“The safety of our people is primordial. Hence, affected LGUs must implement preemptive evacuation when necessary, prioritize the health and safety of all response personnel and evacuees, and preposition supplies and equipment,” Abalos said.

In a memorandum, LGUs are told the convene their local risk reduction and management councils (DRRMC), conduct pre-disaster risk assessment for floods and other hazards and activate their barangay DRRMCs for monitoring of possible landslides while assessing the structural integrity of evacuation centers. Philippine News Agency, Joel dela Torre

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Joel dela Torre