Manila: A total of 211 families or 668 individuals in the Ilocos Region have preemptively evacuated as of 11 a.m. Monday due to the threat of Super Typhoon “Nando,” according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).
According to Philippines News Agency, OCD Regional Director Laurence Mina reported that the evacuations included 58 families (188 individuals) from Barangay Mindoro, Bangar, La Union; 135 families (417 individuals) from Bacarra and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; and 18 families (63 individuals) from Balungao, Pangasinan. The preemptive evacuation was carried out by the Ilocos Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Evacuation centers have been stocked with hygiene kits and medical supplies, in coordination with the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional offices.
Mina emphasized the importance of local government units implementing forced evacuation if necessary, particularly with the super typhoon’s potential impact. “Marami pa din kasi hindi sumusunod sa preemptive evacuation (There are still many who do not follow the preemptive evacuation),” he noted. Additionally, rescue teams and resources have been strategically positioned and some have already been deployed.
DSWD Ilocos Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan stated that 106,001 family food packs, 4,725 ready-to-eat food packs, and 10,622 non-food items, totaling PHP96.4 million, are prepared in 19 warehouses throughout the region. The agency also holds PHP3 million in standby funds. “The warehouses were fully replenished and ready to augment the local government units,” she assured.
DOH-Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco confirmed that medical supplies, hygiene kits, potable water, and nutrition kits are also prepared. Meanwhile, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office emergency operations head Pia Flores mentioned that they are closely monitoring river systems and dam levels as Nando threatens to bring 50 to 100 millimeters of rain to the province. Flores encouraged residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to evacuate ahead of time and avoid waiting for floodwaters to rise.
Super Typhoon Nando is currently exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour near its center, with gustiness reaching up to 265 km/h, as it progresses westward at 20 km/h.
