EMBASSY MANILA PREPARED FOR TYPHOON MITAG

UNCLAS MANILA 003758 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR S/ES-CMR, EAP/EX, OBO/OM/AM/EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ABLD AMGT ASEC KSAF MMED RP SUBJECT: EMBASSY MANILA PREPARED FOR TYPHOON MITAG REF: Manila 2957 ¶1. Embassy Manila remains well-prepared and coordinated with local authorities to respond to Typhoon Mitag. Typhoon MITAG pronounced as: "me-tok" has dramatically slowed down while heading on a temporary WSW drift but still endangers the Bicol Region. Communities along the Eastern Provinces of Central Philippines from Aurora, Polillo, Quezon, Bicol down to Samar are braced for 90 mile per hour winds. Thousands of people have been evacuated. The Government of the Philippines is taking extended precautions. ¶2. Forecasters expect the small island of Catanduanes in Bicol, 500 kilometers from Manila, to be hit first. Typhoon Mitag is not on course at present to directly hit Manila, but at a minimum, Post is prepared for heavy winds and rain beginning Saturday night. USG facilities in Baguio, in northwest Luzon, are potentially in the path and will be hit by heavy winds Sunday. ¶3. Philippine national and local authorities are responding and have thus far not indicated a need for U.S. assistance. USAID/OFDA provided assistance to the same region of the Philippines following damaging typhoons a year ago. As outlined in reftel, Mission offices are on stand-by to respond and assist to typhoon conditions. KENNEY