Preemptive responses seen amid ‘Uwan’ onslaught

Local governments and national agencies across Metro Manila launched massive disaster response operations Sunday as super typhoon "Uwan" approached, prompting pre-emptive evacuations and the full mobilization of emergency services.

The local government of Manila evacuated 532 individuals early Sunday, primarily residents near the Manila Bay shoreline and breakwater in Baseco.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso reported that 28 evacuation centers were prepared across the city. As of 3 p.m., 450 individuals were housed at H.J. Atienza Elementary School, one at Del Pan Sports Complex, and 80 at the Barangay 105 covered court.

The Manila Social Welfare Department is providing continuous hot meals, bedding and personal necessities to the evacuees.

Domagoso called all 896 barangay leaders to City Hall to brief them on monitoring typhoon conditions and meeting the goal of “zero casualties” while City Health Officer Dr. Grace Padilla placed all six district hospitals under a “Code White” status starting midnight for any emergency cases.

Padilla also noted that 25,000 capsules of Doxycycline were distributed to health centers to prevent leptospirosis cases.

In Muntinlupa City, Mayor Ruffy Biazon reported that 2,756 residents had moved to eight open evacuation centers, including sites at Barangay Buli, Cupang, Alabang and Putatan.

Biazon had advised pre-emptive evacuations as early as Saturday for communities near rivers and lakes and cited that the number of evacuees is expected to increase as the typhoon intensifies through Monday, and while hot meals are provided, the city government may need to acquire additional hygiene supplies.

Meantime, the Southern Police District intensified its disaster operations, placing a total of 353 personnel on full alert, including search and rescue teams and quick response members, across its seven city police stations.

The personnel, supported by 82 mobile patrols and 60 motorcycle units, are tasked with assisting in pre-emptive evacuations, traffic management, and relief operations in coordination with local government units.

In Taguig City, the Incident Management Center was activated to coordinate actions among the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

In other developments, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Sunday it has prepositioned mobility assets near the typhoon’s projected path.

LTFRB chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said the mobilization of land vehicles, including trucks and buses, is in response to a directive from Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez to assist in transporting relief goods and extending immediate aid to affected residents, fulfilling the order from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for a unified government response.

Mendoza stressed the urgency of the efforts, noting that the typhoon’s “super typhoon” category means severe effects are expected. The LTFRB also instructed regional directors to issue travel advisories against non-essential travel in areas expected to be hit by "Uwan."