Tacloban recalls Yolanda lessons as PH braces for Typhoon Uwan

The local government of Tacloban on Saturday urged residents to remember the lessons of Super Typhoon Yolanda, as the country braces for the imminent impact of Typhoon Uwan.

On the 12th anniversary of Yolanda, and a day before Uwan is forecast to affect parts of the country, the city commemorated the more than 6,000 people who died in the 2013 disaster.

A memorial mass was held in Tacloban, where survivors reflected on their experiences.

Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez said the city is preparing for Uwan, but stressed that community readiness is equally crucial.

“We cannot handle 200,000, 300,000 people. You yourselves have to be prepared. It’s like 24 hours, 48 hours to prepare,” he said.

Romualdez also said the local government is considering implementing a liquor ban ahead of the storm.

“Imagine, kailangan maglabas pa ako ng liquor ban. Bakit? May mga iba, matitigas ang ulo. Sasabihin na, ‘Sir, malamig kaya umiinom kami.’ Ilan ang namatay na lasing noong Yolanda—ang daming namatay,” he added.

(“Imagine, I still need to issue a liquor ban. Why? Some people are stubborn. They’ll say, ‘It’s cold, so we’re drinking.’ Many who died during Yolanda were drunk.”)

Many residents still carry the trauma from Yolanda to this day.

“Umaano yung kalamnan ko pag nakakarinig ako ng may bagyo. Parang ang tagal na eh, pero hindi mo maiwasan eh. Pag sabi na may typhoon, nakaano na ako ng trauma,” Yolanda survivor Melchor Cerevilla told 24 Oras Weekend reporter Nikko Serreno.

(“My insides churn when I hear the news about a typhoon. It’s been so long, but you can’t avoid it. When they say a typhoon is coming, the trauma returns.”)

Local governments across Eastern Visayas have begun preemptive and forced evacuations in areas identified as high-risk.

PAGASA earlier said Typhoon Uwan is expected to develop into a super typhoon by Saturday night or early Sunday morning and may make landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or northern Aurora by Sunday evening or early Monday.

As of 5 p.m., five areas nationwide were placed under Signal No. 3. PAGASA warned that the highest possible signal during the typhoon’s passage could reach Signal No. 5.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/MCG, GMA Integrated News