CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Central Luzon has called on member-agencies and local disaster risk reduction and management offices to heighten preparedness and coordination measures.
This comes as Typhoon Uwan entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and is expected to affect parts of the region in the coming days.
RDRRMC Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Amador Corpus urged council members, line agencies, response clusters, and local DRRM officers to closely monitor their areas of responsibility and proactively address potential threats before, during, and after the weather disturbance.
Corpus emphasized the need to go beyond the usual scope of planning in anticipating risks, noting that hazards brought by strong weather systems may escalate quickly, especially in vulnerable and low-lying communities.
“We have to go beyond our imagination. Dapat nakikita na natin ang mga puwedeng maging problema, at seryosohin natin ang paghahanda para sa worst-case scenario. Pagtulung-tulungan natin ito para magkaroon tayo ng mas maayos na preparasyon sa paparating na bagyo,” he said.
He also called for closer coordination with barangay officials, particularly in high-risk zones, to ensure early guidance and support to residents should preemptive or forced evacuation become necessary.
“Dapat bago pa magkaroon ng problema, na-preemptive o forced evacuate na ang mga residente sa mga danger zones,” he added.
Member agencies and local DRRM councils were likewise reminded to secure communication lines, pre-position resources, and ensure the readiness of evacuation centers, relief supplies, medical personnel, and rescue teams.
The RDRRMC raised its Emergency Operations Center alert level to red, the highest status, effective 6:30 p.m. of Nov. 6, signaling full activation of response mechanisms across Central Luzon.
The public is advised to remain vigilant, monitor updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and local authorities, and cooperate should evacuation and safety measures be implemented. (MJSC/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
