Police, military on alert for Ulysses

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday alerted their respective disaster response units in areas which will be directly hit by Typhoon Ulysses. 

AFP chief General Gilbert Gapay said all disaster response units in the entire Luzon and some parts of Visayas are still on high alert. 

He said the military is already coordinating with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as well as the local government units (LGUs) in preparation for the typhoon. 

"Personnel and equipment of Southern Luzon Command, Northern Luzon Command, and JTF National Capital Region down to the battalion level are already pre-positioned in safe locations," Gapay said in a press statement. 

Gapay said government troops are also assisting in preemptive evacuation measures in low-lying areas. He called on the public to cooperate with their localities in preparing for the typhoon. 

"Ang inyong Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, katuwang ng iba't ibang sangay ng pamahalaan, ay mananatiling nakatutok sa inyong kaligtasan," Gapay said. 

"Kami ay muling nananawagan sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat, makinig, at makiisa upang maibsan ang epekto ng bagyong ito. Gabayan nawa tayo ng Panginoon sa panahong ito," he added. 

Meanwhile, PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas also alerted all police regional offices and national support units in the entire Southern Luzon to muster all disaster-response capability for risk reduction and public safety operations in areas along Ulysses' path. 

Sinas directed the prepositioning of PNP disaster response personnel, equipment and resources in perennial geohazard areas prone to flooding and landslides to implement forced evacuation of communities in these areas. 

Moreover, local units were tasked to provide assistance and security to evacuation centers and temporary shelters put up by LGUs and disaster councils. 

At 10 a.m., Ulysses was spotted at 100 kilometers north of Virac, Catanduanes packing maximum sustained winds of 125 km per hour and gustiness of up to 155 km/h, PAGASA said. 

It is heading towards the west northwestward track at 20km/h. 

As of 11 a.m., twelve areas were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 due to Ulysses. —KG, GMA News