Pangasinan: A total of 2,291 families, encompassing 7,641 individuals, have been evacuated as of 5 p.m. on Sunday. This move follows the mandate from the Pangasinan provincial government, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), for forced evacuation due to the looming threat of Super Typhoon Uwan.
According to Philippines News Agency, the decision came after it was observed that earlier preemptive evacuations were insufficient. Vincent Chiu, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) operations chief, explained in an interview that while 17 local government units (LGUs) initially conducted preemptive evacuations, the numbers were not adequate. Consequently, Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino issued a memorandum for forced evacuations, which has now involved 23 LGUs with ongoing operations.
The memorandum targets families residing in high-risk areas, including riversides, coastal regions, and landslide-prone mountain slopes. Chiu emphasized that while the reluctance of some individuals to move to evacuation centers is understandable, the safety of every person is paramount.
Chiu further noted that local chief executives who fail to implement the forced evacuation order will be held accountable under the law. He also assured that resources have been strategically positioned to ensure public safety. This includes food items, non-food items, rescue personnel, and water assets across various parts of the province. The engineering office is prepared with dump trucks for quick response and coordination.
Water search and rescue teams, along with other rescue personnel and equipment, have been deployed in several areas, including Burgos; Rabon, San Fabian; Malico, San Nicolas; Tayug; and central Pangasinan. These efforts are supported by national government agencies. The Provincial Social Welfare Office has ensured the availability of sufficient food packs for families in evacuation centers, should LGUs require additional supplies.
Governor Ramon Guico III has announced the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools, as well as work in government offices-excluding those providing frontline services-on Monday, in anticipation of the potential severe impacts of Super Typhoon Uwan. The entire province remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 as of 5 p.m. Sunday.
