Zero casualties in Aurora as early evacuations soften #UwanPH's impact

BALER, Aurora — The province and the rest of Central Luzon emerged unscathed from Super Typhoon “Uwan,” with authorities reporting zero casualties despite widespread damage, thanks to proactive disaster preparations.

More than 10,735 families (33,908 individuals) were evacuated before the typhoon’s landfall, preventing loss of life as landslides in Dipaculao blocked the road to Maddela, Quirino, while flooding affected the towns of San Luis and Casiguran, according to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

Teams from the Aurora District Engineering Office (ADEO) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) immediately began clearing operations. However, unstable power supply and intermittent Smart and Globe signals continued to hamper recovery in Dinalungan and Dingalan.

The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 3 activated disaster task forces days ahead of the typhoon, strengthening monitoring in evacuation centers and flood-prone areas. PBGEN Ponce Peñones Jr., PRO3 Regional Director, credited the zero-casualty outcome to disaster preparedness drills under the PNP’s Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO) strategy, saying, “Preparedness, coordination, and cooperation save lives.”

As of Tuesday, PRO3 personnel remained deployed for road-clearing efforts and relief distribution, while the Philippine Red Cross provided hot meals to 1,538 evacuees in Baler and Dilasag.

Aurora Governor Isidro Galban vowed expedited aid delivery, prioritizing communities heavily hit by landslides and prolonged power interruptions.