Pangasinan: A total of 156 families or 518 individuals have been evacuated from seven municipalities in Pangasinan as of Sunday morning due to Super Typhoon Uwan, which is threatening to unleash catastrophic winds and flooding as it barrels toward Luzon. In a phone interview, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) assistant head Avenix Arenas said the evacuees are from high-risk areas in 13 barangays in Alaminos, Anda, Infanta, Bani, San Fabian, Rosales towns, and Dagupan City.
According to Philippines News Agency, Arenas emphasized that local government units are being urged to carry out continuous preemptive evacuations, particularly in coastal areas, due to the dangerous conditions anticipated. The weather bureau has issued a storm surge warning placing Pangasinan under the red category, with an estimated storm surge height reaching more than three meters.
Arenas further mentioned that the Department of the Interior and Local Government will directly communicate with localities to encourage preemptive evacuations. She stressed the importance of such evacuations for the safety of residents and urged local government units and citizens to heed the authorities’ advice.
To ensure safety and preparedness, water search and rescue teams, along with other rescue personnel and equipment, have been deployed in strategic locations, including Burgos town, Barangay Rabon in San Fabian, Barangay Malico in San Nicolas, Tayug town, and central Pangasinan. These teams are set to provide assistance as needed.
Residents, especially those residing in coastal, mountainous, flood-prone, and low-lying areas, are advised to evacuate to the nearest evacuation centers. They should coordinate with their Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for timely guidance on preemptive evacuation.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office has confirmed the availability of sufficient food packs to support families in evacuation centers if local government units require additional resources.
In response to the impending threat of Typhoon Uwan, Governor Ramon Guico III has suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools and halted work in government offices, except for those in frontline services, on Monday. The entire province is currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 as of 8 a.m. Sunday.
