MMDA ready to assist outside of NCR in Super Typhoon Mawar aftermath

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said it is willing to assist local governments outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Mawar.

"In fact, kami ang tinignan namin sa aftermath ay more on tulong sa ibang lugar rather than Metro Manila," said MMDA acting chairperson Don Artes in a media briefing.

[Translation: In fact, we are leaning more towards helping other areas in the aftermath rather than Metro Manila.]

"Sabi ko nga, ang LGUs ng Metro Manila ay handa, equipped, at trained ang aming mga tao dito sa NCR," Artes also said. So, after namin maayos ang lahat dito sa NCR, kami ay ready ma-deploy sa ibang lugar."

[Translation: LGUs in Metro Manila are prepared, equipped, and our personnel are trained. So after we do our job here in NCR, we are ready to be deployed to other areas.]

Mawar reintensified into a super typhoon early Thursday morning and it may enter the country’s weather monitoring area on Friday evening or Saturday morning, the state weather bureau reported.

It warned that Mawar is forecast to continue intensifying in the next three days and may reach a peak intensity of 215 km/h on Sunday.

Meanwhile, thunderstorms are more likely to develop over NCR, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna within the next 12 hours.

The MMDA said aside from preparing for the typhoon's aftermath, disaster risk reduction plans for Mawar's entry will be discussed in a meeting with officials of NCR cities on Thursday.