BALANGA CITY (PIA) — The Bataan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened to ensure heightened preparedness against Typhoon Uwan, which, according to the state weather bureau Pagasa, has continued to intensify.
Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III, who chairs the council, emphasized the need to step up information dissemination and community-based preparedness efforts in all barangays.
He underscored the importance of ensuring that residents, particularly those in high-risk and hard-to-reach areas, are informed and ready should Uwan bring heavy rains, strong winds in the province.
“As early as now, we must strengthen our coordination and community awareness to minimize possible impacts,” Garcia stressed.
He also reiterated the importance of possible preemptive evacuation in identified high-risk communities between Saturday and Sunday.
Based on Pagasa’s Saturday 5 a.m. weather bulletin, Uwan is expected to reach super typhoon category on Saturday night or Sunday morning.
It is expected to make landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or the northern portion of Aurora late Sunday evening or early Monday morning. Pagasa added.
“We have to prioritize the safety of our people. If needed, pre-emptive evacuation will help prevent loss of life and ensure that our communities are protected,” he added.
PDRRMO Officer-in-Charge Rowena Marie Santos directed chairpersons of local DRRM councils and the heads of PDRRMC response clusters to closely monitor and disseminate all weather bulletins, warnings, and advisories issued by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and other monitoring agencies.
She likewise instructed local government units (LGUs) to conduct Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment and implement preparedness measures under Operation Listo, the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s advocacy program aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness among LGUs through a whole-of-government approach.
Santos added that local DRRM councils must also prepare for possible preemptive evacuations, strengthen risk communication and localized warnings in their areas of responsibility, and ensure that response assets, relief goods, medical supplies, and other logistical needs are prepositioned.
She also noted the need to monitor water levels, river systems, and communities in low-lying and mountainous areas prone to flash floods and landslides, and issue timely advisories to shipping and passenger vessels as necessary.
PDRRMC member-agencies expressed their commitment to mobilize necessary resources and maintain close coordination with LGUs to ensure prompt response and assistance should the need arise.
The provincial government encouraged the public to stay attentive to official advisories and to coordinate with their barangay, city, and municipal DRRM offices for guidance on necessary safety measures. (MJSC/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
