The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday assured close coordination with partner agencies to monitor movements of the new typhoons.

PAGASA said the move is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for concerned government agencies to track typhoon directions and provide the public timely information on the storms and their impacts.

“As early as last week, we’ve been coordinating with partner agencies natin in terms of disaster preparedness and mitigation regarding the effects of not only Nika but also tropical cyclone Ofel,” PAGASA Weather Division Officer-in-charge Cris Perez said in a press briefing in Quezon City.

Perez said they informed relevant agencies of possible effects of the typhoons in areas recently affected by the previous storms, particularly in Northern and Central Luzon.

“Patuloy po tayong makikipag-coordinate [to] provide updates on rainfall forecast, [at] wind signal para po we [can] prepare yung mga kababayan natin in those regions na posibleng maapektuhan din nitong paparating na bagyo,” he said.

PAGASA is currently monitoring three storms. The agency issued general flood advisories in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and MIMAROPA.

As of early Tuesday, Severe Tropical Storm “Nika” was spotted 185km west of Laoag City, and is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) later today.

Tropical Storm Ofel (international name Usagi) also entered the PAR early Tuesday.

PAGASA is currently monitoring another storm (international name Man-yi) outside of PAR. | PND