At least 34,000 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were alerted for possible disaster response operations in anticipation of super typhoon “Mawar’s” (international name) impact to the country. (Photo: Manila Bulletin) Mawar is expected to hit the country on Friday night, May 26, or Saturday morning, May 27, and will be given the local name typhoon “Betty” once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility. AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino directed more than 12,000 personnel and reservists nationwide to be on alert as first responders while over 2,800 land transportation, air and water assets were prepared for deployment to areas needing humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR). “In anticipation of Typhoon Betty (Typhoon Mawar), the Armed Forces of the Philippines has alerted all search, rescue, and retrieval units for humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in areas expected to be affected by the typhoon,” said Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesperson. Further, the AFP chief also instructed the military’s unified commands and major services to check the readiness and preposition their HADR equipment and assets, and assist local government units (LGUs) in conducting pre-emptive and mandatory evacuations. Meanwhile, PNP chief Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. placed 22,000 police personnel on alert while 2,200 mobility and sea assets were readied for possible deployment to areas that will be affected by the typhoon “The NHQ [PNP National Headquarters] already activated the disaster incident management task group which will handle the preparation, response, and post actions of the PNP,” said Police Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, chief of PNP public information office. The AFP and PNP called on the public to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures to keep themselves safe when the typhoon hits.