The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday said it has alerted all its search, rescue and retrieval units for humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in areas that may possibly be affected once Super Typhoon Mawar enters the country.

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said more than 12,000 military personnel and reservists are now alerted as first responders in anticipation of the super typhoon.

“All Unified Commands and Major Services were already directed to muster and check the readiness of HADR equipment and assets; preposition HADR units; assist local government units in evacuations; and participate in coordination meetings and planning activities,” he added.

The AFP is also set to deploy more than 2,800 land transportation, air and water assets for its HADR operations.

“Vehicles and personnel are already being prepared to assist in the mandatory evacuation of residents in vulnerable areas. Air and naval assets are also on standby for deployment for future aerial assessment, transport and evacuation operations,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar added additional troops and assets “will be committed when necessary.”

“We, therefore, call on the public to be vigilant and to take precautionary measures as advised by competent authorities. Let us all do our part in ensuring the safety not just of the affected communities but of our responders as well.”