The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) has released a statement informing the public that Supertyphoon “Mawar” will not make landfall in the Philippines despite its entry into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday or Saturday.

According to the latest DOST-PAGASA weather forecast, the expected rain that might be experienced from Sunday onwards will be due to the triggered strength of the “Habagat,” or Southwest Monsoon, and may affect the Western portion of the country.

The OCD has stated that they do not dispense any preparations needed to be taken relative to the weather disturbance.

However, they have released this statement to correct a circulating message on Facebook about the “intense” effects of the supertyphoon.

The OCD is urging netizens and the general public to avoid sharing such messages and to rely on trusted agencies for information.

The OCD is also requesting that everyone use social media responsibly to avoid confusion and panic.