Gov’t agencies brace for supertyphoon ‘Lawin’

About P1.4 billion worth of standby fund, food and relief items had been stockpiled in anticipation of Supertyphoon “Lawin” (international name: Haima).

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development has ensured the prepositioning of Php1.4 billion worth of stockpile of relief items and standby fund,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Wednesday.

READ: Full alert up as powerful Typhoon ‘Lawin’ nears north Luzon

Quick response teams have also been deployed to assist in disaster response operations, it added.

The Department of Health has also ensured the availability of medical supplies and other logistical requirements, while emergency medical teams are also on standby for deployment.

Pieces of heavy equipment have also been prepositioned by the Department of Public Works and Highways for possible clearing operations.

Lawin intensified into a supertyphoon Wednesday afternoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 315 kph.

READ: ‘Lawin’ reaches supertyphoon status

It is expected to make landfall over Isabela-Cagayan area between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 2 a.m. Thursday. RAM