Local government units (LGUs) are now holding pre-emptive evacuations in areas where Super Typhoon ‘Lawin’ is expected to hit.

In Northern Luzon, particularly in Cagayan Region, the city of Tuguegarao and municipalities of Aparri, Gonzaga, Camalaniugan, and Penablanca have already conducted pre-emptive evacuation, while other LGUs are now ordering communities in low-lying areas and landslide-prone areas to seek safe locations.

In Region V, 24 families are now staying in Vinzons Pilot High School in Brgy. Sula, Vinzons, Camarines Norte.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office has already sent five staff to the DSWD Field Office II to assist in relief, response and augmentation support.

Replenishment of food and non-food items are also ongoing in Regions II, III, IV-A, and in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

At present, a total of 508,358 Family Food Packs (FFPs) are prepositioned in strategic locations around the country, while available standby funds amount to P720, 878,547.17.

“Our field offices and disaster response teams are continuously monitoring the track of the typhoon. We are also in close coordination with concerned LGUs so we can immediately send out augmentation support or additional relief items to affected families. Rest assured that the Department will continue to update the status of our relief operations to the public,” said DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.

Sec. Taguiwalo appealed to Filipinos living in danger zones in affected regions to heed the warnings of barangays and LGUs regarding the need to evacuate. “We want to prevent loss of life by 100%. To do this, all of us should coordinate, work together and obey all warnings for our safety and security. There are no excuses for this,” she said. #