Tacloban residents brace for Hagupit

Tacloban residents, especially those in coastal barangays, have started to prepare for Typhoon Hagupit (local name Ruby), which is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday.

It is also expected to make landfall over Eastern Visayas in the same way Supertyphoon Yolanda did when it battered Tacloban and nearby provinces more than a year ago.

 

GMA News' "24 Oras" on Wednesday reported that residents have prepared emergency supplies such as flashlights, medicines, and food.

 

Other areas in Visayas cut tree branches down and reinforced roofs to prepare for the incoming storm.

 

"Ang mga kabayahan na yari sa light materials ay pwede nitong gibain," PAGASA Deputy Spokesperson Jun Dalida said.

 

Defense Usec. Alexander Pama, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director, asked families to join the preparations, saying the start of disaster risk-reduction depended on their efforts.

 

"Take heed, maniwala po tayo sa mga warningspati na rin po sa mga pakiusap ng mga namumuno po sa atin sa barangay, sa munisipyo," he said

 

Interior and Local Government Usec. Austere Panadero added, "'Wag po nating kalimutan 'yung mga dumaang bagyo, na kahit nasa loob tayo ng ating mga bahay ay may mga nangyayari pa rin."

 

Meanwhile, LGUs cancelled classes from elementary to high school to prepare schools as evacuation centers.

 

"Nagkaroon na po ng paghahanda para po mailikas ang 62 families galing po sa Brgy. 88 at yung mga ibang pamilya dun sa tabing dagat ng Tacloban City na mailipat po dun sa nakumpleto, sa tapos na permanent shelter units," said Social Welfare and Development Asec. Vilma Cabrera.

 

NDRRMC also raised their alert level to red to better prepare for the pending storm, as they've identified at least 50 provinces as critical areas. —Rie Takumi/NB, GMA News