By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) readies relief supplies as authorities prepare for Super Typhoon “Mawar.”

PSWDO officer-in-charge Gerla Sario said the prepositioned supplies are located at several local government units (LGUs) in the province.

She added that they have requested additional supplies from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas.

Several LGUs in the province have also met with their respective Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices to review their pre-disaster readiness assessment and emergency preparedness.

“Mawar” is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) tonight or early Saturday morning, May 27.

It will be given the local name “Betty” once it enters PAR.

The weather disturbance has a very low chance of making landfall, but it is expected to strengthen the southwest monsoon or “habagat” over the western portions of Luzon and the Visayas on Sunday or Monday, May 28 or 29./DGB, WDJ