Pangasinan: Pangasinan’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has urged residents to prepare a ‘Go-Bag’ with essential emergency supplies and to evacuate proactively if needed, in case of a potential super typhoon in the upcoming days.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pangasinan PDRRMO emergency operations head Pia Flores said in a phone interview on Thursday that the province might be affected by the incoming super typhoon due to its ‘large cone of uncertainty.’

Flores advised communities to make preparations, such as cleaning roads and drainage, and preparing a ‘Go-Bag’ for immediate needs, including food, toiletries, first aid kit, and clothes. This preparation is crucial so that if evacuation becomes necessary, residents are ready.

Flores also emphasized the importance of preemptive evacuation, noting that it is the most vital precautionary measure. She urged residents living in dangerous areas to heed instructions on preemptive evacuation.

The province is maintaining a blue alert during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, which could escalate to a red alert if necessary. Officials are conducting a pre-disaster risk assessment with concerned agencies to discuss each office and agency’s preparations for the province.

Flores mentioned the weather bureau’s report, indicating that Tropical Storm Fung-Wong, soon to be named Uwan, will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday evening or early Saturday morning and is expected to develop into a typhoon.

By the weekend, before reaching landmass, it is anticipated to strengthen into a super typhoon. It is expected to cross northern Luzon and parts of central Luzon by Monday or Tuesday. Fung-Wong has slightly intensified while moving northwestward near Yap, Micronesia, located about 1,690 km east of northeastern Mindanao.